The much-awaited rematch between Rene Cuarto and Pedro Taduran had an anti-climatic ending.
Cuarto kept the International Boxing Federation World Minimumweight championship via a seventh round technical majority decision, 66-64, 65-64, and 65-75, Sunday at the Digos City Gym in Davao.
Like their first encounter last February 27 that saw Cuarto take a unanimous decision win (115-113×3), the two rivals figured in a banger of a bout that was hard to judge round by round.
However, disaster broke during the sixth round. The 25-year-old “Mighty Mouse” figured in a clinch with the former champion. During the brief struggle, Cuarto butted heads with Taduran resulting in a gash on his forehead.
Though Taduran was cleared by the ringside physician to continue on in the seventh round, the cut could not be contained resulting in referee Rex Tapdasan immediately sending the bout to the scorecards.
Cuarto raised his slate to 20-2, 11KOs while Taduran fell to 14-4-1.
Despite the decision, one thing is for certain — Cuarto has not seen the last of Taduran.
