Taduran sizes up crafty Mexican challenger

International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran googled the name of Mexican Gustavo Perez the moment he got word that they will be facing off on 3 April at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

The Filipino southpaw, who will be making the third defense of the IBF 105-pound throne, took note of just one thing.

“He’s a very technical fighter,” Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE on Friday after another tough grind at the Knuckleheads Boxing Fraternity sweat shop in Las Vegas.

Perez, who has a 16-1-0 win-loss-draw record with five knockouts, likewise excels in counter-punching although there were moments that he engaged in torrid exchanges.

“He loves to move a lot while counter-punching,” said Taduran, who packs a 19-3-1 card with 13 knockouts.

Though not highly-rated, Perez has the skill set capable of messing up Taduran and ruining his desire to become an undisputed champion.

“I have to be 100 percent in shape, meaning no injuries (on fight night),” added the volume-punching southpaw from Libon, Albay.

In the event he gets past Perez, Taduran swears he would go after the winner of the 14 March unification showdown between Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder Oscar Collazo and Melvin Jerusalem.

Collazo has in his possession the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association straps while Jerusalem owns the World Boxing Council version.

The Taduran-Perez show will be staged by Sean Gibbons, who runs Manny Pacquiao Promotions and Viva Promotions.

Gibbons also represents a bevy of topnotch Filipino ring talents.