NEWLY Crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight titleholder Rene Mark Cuarto wanted to be remembered as a world champion who reigned for the longest time—not only during the time of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I finally achieved my dream of becoming a world champion and I am hoping to hold this title for a long time. I want to stay as a world champion,” the 24-year-old Cuarto told BusinessMirror on Sunday.
Cuarto dethroned Pedro Taduran via unanimous decision—all three judges saw the fight 115-113—on Saturday in General Santos City.
“I’m so happy that my hard work has finally paid off,” he said.
Cuarto joined the elite cast of Filipino world champions—IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero and World Boxing Association (WBA) minimumweight titleholder Vic Saludar.
Now, Cuarto is willing to defend his belt against anyone.
“If opportunity presents itself, I want to fight in a unification match against other world champions. But that depends on my trainer and manager [Nonoy Neri] who to fight next,” added Cuarto.
Cuarto, who pocketed $8,000 (P390,043.12 from the fight, improved to 19-2-2 win-loss-draw record with 11 knockouts. Taduran (14-3-1 record with 11 knockouts) banked $20,000 as the world champion before the fight.
“I do not have any plans [about my fight purse] for now but to put it in my personal savings,” said the Zamboanga del Norte native Cuarto, who dedicated his triumph to his three-year-old son CJ.
“Maybe after two weeks, I will return to training but for now I am just relaxing and enjoying the moment,” added Cuarto, who shunned answering questions on a rematch with Taduran.
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