International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran is right on track in his Las Vegas training camp in line with his third title defense in early-April.

As his buildup steps up, Taduran will get to reunite with his chief trainer Carl Peñalosa, who is expected to join him in the last week of February.

Taduran has been booked to meet Mexican Gustavo Perez on 3 April at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

His American representative Sean Gibbons is staging the fight as a way to prepare the Filipino southpaw for a possible unification fight towards the end of the year.

“Right now, I am sparring six rounds but I expect the number to increase with the arrival of my trainer,” said Taduran, who made two defenses last year in Osaka and in Manila.

In May, the Bicol-born banger mauled Ginjiro Shigeoka, who wound up being stretchered out of the ring en route to a hospital.

Then he soundly beat compatriot Christian Balunan last October during the Thrilla in Manila 50th anniversary festivities.

Taduran arrived in the United States on New Year’s Day with the goal of unifying all four major belts in the 105-pound class.

Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo has two straos while another Filipino, Melvin Jerusalem, has one.

Collazo holds the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association crowns while Jerusalm has the World Boxing Council title.