Unification next for Taduran?

IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran’s on a roll. Last weekend, he picked up his sixth win in a row, bowling over tough Mexican challenger Gustavo Perez on a seventh-round stoppage at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. Perez, coming off eight straight victories, took four trips to the canvas before referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to halt the carnage.

Taduran’s manager Marty Elorde said if he has his way, next in line would be a unification showdown with WBA/WBO 105-pound ruler Oscar Collazo, a Puerto Rican protégé of Oscar dela Hoya. Collazo totes a 14-0 record, with 11 KOs and four of his victims were Filipinos Jayson Vayson, Garen Diagan, Melvin Jerusalem and Vic Saludar. Taduran’s record is 20-4-1, with 14 KOs.

“Sabi ni (MP Promotions head) Sir Sean (Gibbons), unification na,” said Elorde who noted that Manny Pacquiao, a ringside guest, gave Taduran a $5,000 bonus. What makes Elorde confident of a Taduran win over Collazo is his self-discipline. “Malayo mararating niya,” added Elorde. “Tiniis niya yung pagod at hirap ng ensayo at laban kontra Perez para sa kaniyang pamilya.”

Taduran, 29, said while he’s used to battling southpaws, Perez wasn’t easy pickings. In the first round, Perez controlled the action behind a sharp right jab and Taduran couldn’t get his rhythm. “Sabi ni coach Carl (Peñalosa), pasukin ko at mahina sa bodega,” said Taduran. “Nag-adjust ako at nakuha ko na ang timing. Wala siyang maraming combinations, in-and-out para ‘di ako kaagad maka-counter.” Once Taduran found his groove, it was the beginning of Perez’ end.

Perez fell in the third round but Taylor ruled it a slip. In the fourth, he went down twice and took mandatory eights. In the sixth, Perez was decked once and looked shaky. In the seventh, Taduran stepped up his attack and landed a left hook to the ribcage, staggering Perez. It took a few seconds before Perez collapsed in a delayed reaction. Somehow, Perez beat the 10-count but when he got up, Taylor waved it off.

Taduran, the eighth of nine children born to farm caretaker and “itak” maker Pedro Sr. and barangay police officer Belencita, learned how to box from his brother Joseph when he was in Grade Three. To prepare for Perez, Taduran stayed and trained three months in Gibbons’ Knuckleheads ranch in Las Vegas. He returns home tonight to reunite with his wife Mary Joy, an elementary school teacher, and son McGaven in Cabuyao, Laguna.