His title defense is more than three months away but Pedro Taduran is making sure he is in training mode.

The current International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight titleholder — one of just two reigning Filipino world champions — isn’t reporting for afternoon gym workouts at the Elorde Sports Center.

“I will report back to the gym on 3 March,” he said yesterday from his Laguna home.

But Taduran, who faces Ginjiro Shigeoka in an all-southpaw showdown on 24 May in Osaka, is not exactly doing nothing while he is on a break.

“I am doing light training in the morning and also shadowboxing and jogging to keep myself in shape,” he said.

Taduran was supposed to defend against Chinese knockout artist Zhu Dianxing last November on Jeju Island, Korea, but the Saigon-based Korean promoter could not proceed owing to financial woes.

Then an offer came for Taduran to face fellow Filipino Ar-Ar Andales in Manila this month but it was likewise shelved, leaving the Bicol-born banger without a challenger.

By the time he enters the ring in May, he would be 10 months removed from his last ring appearance.

That fight was against Shigeoka, who he beat up in nine rounds to bag the IBF strap in Otsu City (near Kyoto) in late-July 2024.

But Taduran won’t be at a disadvantage since Shigeoka himself hasn’t fought since being mauled by Taduran in their all-action bout.

I am sure his trainer Erbing Peñalosa knows the odds they are up against in the second meeting with Shigeoka.

And Taduran himself knows he can’t afford to give Shigeoka the chance to fight back so as not to affect the judges’ scorecards given that he is facing off with a home fighter.

While Shigeoka’s face looked like a Halloween mask after being on the receiving end of Taduran’s potent combinations, assuming that he would follow the same path is dangerous in the rematch.

Considering that Taduran and Peñalosa are kicking off training camp 11 weeks before the fight is a testament to their seriousness and their deep concern about a possible hometown decision.

If Taduran enters the fight in the same condition as the last time, Shigeoka’s quest to exact payback would fail.

Taduran is a different animal.

He is the type of fighter even the most conditioned boxer doesn’t want to mess with.

Not only is Taduran a punching machine. He is also game and gutsy and quite durable, traits that the elite fighters have in common.

In short, Taduran is a terrific fighter and Shigeoka sure knows he’s going to war once again.