MANILA, Philippines—Rene Mark Cuarto kept his IBF minimumweight title after repeating over compatriot Pedro Taduran Sunday night at Digos City Gymnasium in Davao del Sur.
Cuarto won by majority decision after the fight was stopped in the seventh round due to an accidental headbutt in the sixth that left Taduran bloody.
Two judges scored it, 66-64 and 65-64 for Cuarto while the other judge had it 65-65.
The 25-year-old Cuarto (20-2-2, 11KOs) knocked down Taduran (14-4-1, 11KOs) twice—first in the second round and the other coming in the sixth.
The last knockdown was crucial for Cuarto, who was deducted two points in the third round for intentional headbutt.
Cuarto won the IBF belt after beating Taduran by unanimous decision in their first meeting in February last year.