IBF champ kicks off training camp

Even if his next fight seems light years away, punching machine Pedro Taduran displayed seriousness on the task at hand.

Friday’s workout at the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque was light and easy but the reigning International Boxing Federation minimumweight king treated it as if he was right in the middle of training camp.

Taduran is slated to defend the IBF 105-lb title for the first time in a rematch with Ginjiro Shigeoka on 24 May in Osaka. The first time they met — in July last year — Taduran turned Shigeoka’s face into a bloody pulp that the referee had no choice but to stop the scheduled 12-rounder in the ninth round.

“Nothing heavy yet,” Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE.

But the lightness of the training sessions is temporary.

In a few weeks, the Filipino southpaw will kick off the next phase of the training when every punch thrown would reek of bad intentions and each grunt ooze with the sound of pain and punishment he wish to deliver to his Japanese adversary.

Taduran was supposed to risk the title last November but the fight got cancelled when the Korean promoter failed to come up with the budget that would cover his proposed show on Jeju Island in Korea.

“I am excited to return to the ring again,” Taduran said.

Actually, that feeling of excitement isn’t really that.

Taduran just can’t wait to flash his fangs once again.