Taduran defends vs Mexican in early-April

Filipino southpaw Pedro Taduran defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown for the third time against Mexican Gustavo Perez on 3 April at Pechanga Casino and Resort in California.

This fight will take place a little more than two weeks after another major fight in the 105-pound category happens, making it in step with the plan to stage a unification fight sometime in the summer.

Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder Oscar Collazo faces Melvin Jerusalem on 14 March in Los Angeles or Anaheim with the winner on a collision course with Taduran assuming he gets past Perez.

Collazo has the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization straps while Jerusalem holds the World Boxing Council jewels.

Taduran’s main benefactor Sean Gibbons of Manny Pacquiao Promotions is staging the April world title fight.