"Kid Pedro Heneral" Taduran Defends Title with a Knockout US Debut Performance

Pedro Taduran (left) sizes up his adversary, Gustavo Perez Alvarez, during their match at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California on April 3, 2026. Photo by Nicholai Roska for Tangent Zine.

Pedro Taduran impressed in his US debut by defending his IBF strawweight title, achieving a seventh-round TKO stoppage victory over Gustavo Perez Alvarez on Friday at Pechanga Resort in Temecula, California.

The 28-year-old Filipino southpaw dominated the fight, landing powerful jabs and combinations that knocked down the Mexican southpaw three times during the match. The bout concluded at the 1:34 mark of the seventh round when referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight after the fourth knockdown.

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao from Pacman Promotions watches as Pedro Taduran is announced the winner in his match against Gustavo Alvarez. Photo by Nicholai Roska for Tangent Zine.

The left-handed fighter from Libon, Albay, nicknamed "Kid Heneral," advanced his record to 20-4-1 with 14 knockouts, bringing him nearer to a possible unification match against current WBO/WBA champion Oscar Collazo.

Darrick Gates (L) drops for cover as Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr. prepares to launch an attack. Photo by Nicholai Roska for Tangent Zine.

In the other co-main event under Manny Pacquiao Promotions, Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr. effortlessly defeated Darrick Gates, a veteran bare-knuckle fighter, by knocking him down in the second round. The pacman's son leaves no doubt on this one and wasted no time unleashing a four-punch combination to the body that sent Gates to the canvas.

Gates, still unsteady and with shaky legs, managed to stand up, but Jimuel Pacquiao seized the opportunity to end the match and delivered the final blows. The referee stopped the four-round bout, even though Gates was back on his feet by the count of 10.

This victory was Emmanuel Pacquiao Jr.'s first professional win, bringing his record to 1 win, 0 losses, and 1 draw. Meanwhile, Gates, who has participated in eight bareknuckle fights, saw his boxing record fall to 0-2.