Now that it’s becoming clearer that his chance at Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder Oscar Collazo is not happening anytime soon, Pedro Taduran and his camp have started looking elsewhere.

Nothing concrete is on the horizon just yet but a possible backup plan is for Taduran to defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown in the first week of April in California.

Everything is still in the early stages that an opponent remains under discussion, according to one of the fighter’s managers Cucuy Elorde.

Collazo, the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization ruler, seems more inclined to face World Boxing Council titlist and former victim Melvin Jerusalem instead.

Sensing that a rematch is in the offing, Elorde and Taduran’s American representative Sean Gibbons are exploring other options to make sure the IBF champion stays active and in line to battle for the undisputed title.

Taduran flew out of Manila on New Year’s Day to set up camp in Las Vegas in the hopes of landing a lucrative and career-rewarding match with Collazo, who is targeted to return to action in Puerto Rico in March or April.

Last time he fought, Collazo halted the game and gutsy Filipino challenger Jayson Vayson in September 2025 in Indio, California.

Over a month later, Taduran retained his title for the second time by whipping compatriot Christian Balunan during the Thrilla in Manila golden anniversary celebrations.

In his first defense, the southpaw from Libon, Albay, beat Ginjiro Shigeoka of Japan on points in Osaka.

Shigeoka would later collapse and undergo an emergency brain surgery.

Though survived the ordeal, the Japan Boxing Commission has decided to withdraw his license.