Unification bout looms for Taduran if he gets past Shigeoka

MANILA, Philippines -- Pedro Taduran may be headed to a title unification bout if he successfully defends his IBF minimumweight against Ginjiro Shigeoka next week.

The 28-year-old Taduran will be defending his belt against Shigeoka in Osaka on May 24.

This is a highly anticipated rematch between the two, especially since the Filipino boxer defeated his Japanese opponent for the belt last year.

Taduran, after his light workout at the Elorde Boxing Gym in Paranaque City last week, said that if his title defense is successful, he may be taking on WBO minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo next.

“Ang sabi sa akin ni Sir Sean [Gibbons] baka lakarin yung unification kay Oscar Collazo,” he told reporters.

“Sana manalo ako para yun ang makalaban ko.”

Collazo (12-0, with 9 knockouts) previously defeated Filipino boxer Melvin Jerusalem for his WBO strap.

Jerusalem is currently the WBC minimumweight champion.

But before thinking of a possible unification bout, Taduran must first fight off a hostile crowd and the dangerous Shigeoka, who fell via technical knockout to the Filipino last year.

Taduran and his trainer, Carl Penalosa Jr., previously stated that they are gunning for a knockout early against the Japanese pug, but they are capable of going the distance if needed.

Taduran’s camp is set to arrive in Japan Sunday.