Ten days out. And the champ just lost his coach !
Pedro Taduran (20-4-1, 14 KOs), the Philippines' lone world champion, defends his IBF minimumweight title for the fourth time on 7 November at the Kiva Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
His chief trainer won't be there.
Carl Peñalosa, in Taduran's corner since 2024, was unable to secure a visa from the US Embassy on Tuesday.
Not just any coach, either.
Peñalosa — brother of the great Dodie Boy and Gerry — was in the corner when Taduran halted Ginjiro Shigeoka to win the belt in Otsu City, Japan, in July 2024. He was there for the rematch win in Osaka. He was there at the Thrilla in Manila 50th anniversary. And he was there in April, when Taduran knocked out Gustavo Perez Alvarez in seven in Temecula.
Every defence. Every big night.
Now this one ? Paperwork.
Fair play to the team, though. They didn't sit around.
Promoter Sean Gibbons has handed the reins to Joven Jimenez as temporary lead trainer, with former world champion Jerwin Ancajas and Las Vegas-based Jino Rodrigo lending a hand. Manager Marty Elorde flies in from Manila on Saturday.
Across the ring stands Spain's Brandon Moreno, the mandatory challenger — unbeaten in 16 fights with five knockouts, every one of them fought in Spain.
On paper, it's Taduran's to lose. The bookies have him at -1100.
But camp is camp, and the voice in the corner matters.
Can Jimenez and Ancajas keep the Bicol southpaw on track, or will Moreno make a Filipino champion pay for a missing visa ?
🇵🇭 PEDRO TADURAN (20-4-1) vs BRANDON MORENO (unbeaten, 16 fights) 🇪🇸
🏆 IBF minimumweight title (mandatory)
📅 7 November 2026
📍 Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
📺 Salita Promotions on DAZN
Stay tuned !
