Gibbons, Elorde siblings lead unification talks

OSAKA, Japan — Cucuy Elorde’s phone rang as Pedro Taduran and his team were celebrating his 12-round split decision victory over the game and gutsy Japanese challenger Ginjiro Shigeoka on Saturday at the INTEX Osaka.

The guy on the other line was Sean Gibbons, Team Taduran’s business manager, who watched the Filipino’s successful first defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown.

“Sean’s doing his best to arrange a unification fight,” Cucuy, ecstatic over the stunning decision, told DAILY TRIBUNE.

With Gibbons on video call, Taduran and his entourage, erupted in cheers when the celebrated American dealmaker told everyone the high possibility of Oscar Collazo defending his World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization 105-pound straps.

The undefeated Collazo is under Oscar De la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Gibbons already had that in mind even before Taduran survived his rematch with Shigeoka.

“I am going to reward you (Taduran) with a unification fight,” Gibbons said.

Taduran was all smiles when Gibbons uttered those words knowing that he is on his way not only to earn a sizable sum but get the chance to add two more straps to his lone collection.

With Gibbons leading the way, Taduran’s future looks rosy and with Cucuy and his brother Marty joining hands in running the soft-spoken fighter’s affairs, everything points to a mouthwatering Collazo clash sometime this year.

In the meantime, Taduran and his wife Joy are going to celebrate the win before flying back to Manila on Sunday afternoon.

Joining them on that trip back to the Philippines are the Elordes and members of his training and support staff.

As Taduran and his wife and the Elordes revert to relax mode, Gibbons is going to make his move.

That next call to Cucuy could be the one they would all want to receive.