Defending champion Pedro Taduran is facing the same Japanese slugger he battered into submission last year but could end up facing a vastly-improved version when they rumble on 24 May at the Intex Osaka in Osaka, Japan.

Speaking to The Ring on Thursday, Shigeoka believes he is on track to get back at the Filipino, who dealt him a ninth-round stoppage to surrender the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown last July in Otsu City.

“Since I got defeated badly (the) last time, my goal is to show a surprising, changed appearance and then defeat him in a solid way to win hopefully by KO,” Shigeoka, a southpaw like Taduran, said.

The first time they met — an intense matchup — Taduran and Shigeoka battled back and forth until the roof caved in on the Japanese, who sported a fractured orbital floor and was sent to the hospital for treatment.

Taduran, one of just two reigning Filipino world champions, will bring to the ring a 17-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 13 knockouts.

Shigeoka, who will be returning to the ring for the first time since the debacle, will parade an 11-1-0 with nine knockouts.

“I am training hard for that moment (rematch). I have about a month and a half left which I will train hard and do my best.”

Meanwhile, Taduran is doing the same thing, ensuring that he gets to repeat the win and bring the IBF 105-pound title back in the Philippines.