TINY TERROR

When Pedro Taduran traveled to Otsu City in Japan in July last year to face Ginjiro Shigeoka for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown, Japanese fight fans didn’t see him as a challenger.

In the eyes of the boxing world, those who didn’t know who he is and what he’s made of, Taduran was simply a sacrificial lamb.

In other words a pushover.

Though he had once reigned as world champion, many thought he was on his way down after winding up on the losing end of key fights the last four years.

What they didn’t know was Taduran was far from finished as he was still very dangerous and not the type who would be content taking a paycheck.

“I still had a lot in the tank,” Taduran, who would dethrone Shigeoka after the American referee decided that he had seen enough and stopped the scheduled 12-rounder in the ninth round.

By the time the third man on the ring called a halt to the carnage, Taduran was still operating full blast.

But such wasn’t the case with the erstwhile unbeaten Shigeoka, whose eyes were swollen shut, his entire body aching like never before.

The stunning win on hostile ground made Taduran a world champion the second time and the heavy-handed southpaw wants no less than a lengthy reign.

He had the chance to defend the IBF 105-lb strap in November last year on Jeju Island, Korea, but the fight was scrapped at the last minute owing to budgetary woes.

Instead, Taduran is now shifting his focus on a 24 May defense — also in Japan — against Ginjiro.

Even though he had beaten him, Taduran swears the Japanese remains a livewire opponent and taking him for granted could make him an ex-champion once again.

Taduran was born in Bicol on 29 October 1996.

One of nine kids, Taduran had two brothers who also fought professionally but their respective careers were nothing but ordinary.

The son of Pedro Sr., an itak maker and farmer, and Belincita, a housewife, Taduran is known for his incredible stamina and courage.

In his most notable wins, Taduran displayed his staying power and nonstop punching, traits that messed up even the gamest and hard-hitting of foes.

One of just two reigning Filipino world champions, Taduran is about to kick off his buildup for the Shigeoka rematch.

In fact, he is expected to show up at the Elorde Sports Center along Sucat Road in Parañaque on Monday where his chief trainer Carl “Erbing” Peñalosa would be waiting.

“This is going to be a long training camp,” Taduran said, stressing that he will go the extra mile in making sure the fight doesn’t go the distance.

With his enviable characteristics, such is not out of the question.

But to pull it off, Taduran insists that he has to push himself to the limit to maximize his chances of returning home with the IBF belt still strapped around his waist.

Standing just a little over five feet, Taduran parades a 17-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 13 knockouts.

While he only has over 20 pro matches, Taduran has tons of experience, having been a world champion just before the pandemic and a world title challenger before that.

He is likewise scrappy and motivated as he has vowed to give his growing family a beautiful life.

“I just don’t want to become a world champion. I want to become undisputed, too,” said Taduran, who recently was named by the Philippine Sportswriters Association as one of two recipients of professional boxing’s major awards.

On the horizon is a potential unification showdown with the division’s main man, Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo, holder of the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association titles.

The World Boxing Council is held by another Filipino, Melvin Jerusalem, who is likewise eyeing a unification fight.

The two could be on a collision course assuming one of them winds up acquiring Collazo’s crowns.

While they both are not that hot over an all-Filipino showdown, they might be forced to set that aside if it is for the undisputed championship as pride and glory will be on the line apart from a hefty cash prize.

In the meantime, Taduran is solely focused on his May clash with Shigeoka knowing that his future is on the line.

A loss would damage his stock but Taduran, who is supremely confident with his abilities, is not entertaining any of those silly thoughts.

He is on a mission in Japan and that is to prove to everyone that he is indeed a tiny terror on top of the ring.