Pedro Taduran will be next in line to challenge Japanese champion Ginjiro Shigeoka, who is fresh from crushing last-minute replacement Jake Amparo in Nagoya last Sunday.

Taduran is the mandatory challenger to Shigeoka, who holds the International Boxing Federation mini-flyweight crown.

"I believe that negotiations are under way for this fight," Marty Elorde, who manages Taduran, told DAILY TRIBUNE on Thursday.

Handling the talks is the influential American dealmaker Sean Gibbons, who runs a couple of promotional outfits, including the Manny Pacquiao-owned MP Promotions. He is being assisted by his son Brendan, who heads the family-owned Viva Promotions.

As Taduran waits for the formal announcement, he is prepping himself for a tough challenge given Shigeoka's sparkling credentials.

Though Shigeoka is unbeaten and regarded as one of Japan's finest world champions, Taduran is unfazed.

Known for his volume punching and incredible stamina, the Bicol-born Taduran holds a 16-4-1 (win-loss-draw) mark with 12 knockouts. All four of his losses were on points.

Shigeoka parades a 11-0-1 (win-loss-no contest) with nine knockouts, four against Filipinos.

On the same night Melvin Jerusalem upset his brother Yudai Shigeoka, Ginjiro dropped Amparo for the count with a left to the body.

Interestingly, Ginjiro stopped three guys Taduran had fought.