
Photograph courtesy of Wendell Alinea.
World champion Pedro Taduran came to realize over the weekend that he has to ramp up his game if he wishes to have an extended reign as International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight king.
Fresh from repulsing the challenge of Ginjiro Shigeoka on a split decision in Osaka, Taduran admitted his punching power needs an upgrade while his footwork warrants a major modification.
“I have to increase my power and improve my movement,” Taduran said upon his arrival in Manila on Sunday.
Taduran made this observation as a unification showdown with Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico, holder of the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization 105-pound jewels looms on the horizon.
Against Shigeoka, Taduran often missed with his punches and he only made up for them with his patented volume punching.
Unlike in their first meeting where he turned Shigeoka’s face like a Halloween mask, it was not the case in the rematch.