Taduran camp, GBP hold talks

The camp of reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran has kicked off preliminary talks with Golden Boy Promotions, the Los Angeles-based promotional outfit representing Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder Oscar Collazo.

Sean Gibbons of VIVA Promotions and Manny Pacquiao Promotions met with GBP president Eric Gomez in Las Vegas to discuss the possibility of having Taduran and Collazo figure in a unification fight somewhere down the road.

It was a perfect time for the two bigwigs to hold exploratory talks as Collazo and Taduran are fighting a little over two weeks apart from each other.

Collazo defends his World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association straps against Jesus Haro of the US on 14 March at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

Taduran, meanwhile, will make the third defense of the IBF jewels against Mexican Gustavo Perez on 3 April at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

Originally, Collazo was slated to face Melvin Jerusalem, the World Boxing Council titlist next month, but promotional issues forced the cancellation of the match, leaving the Filipino without a fight.

Of course, Gibbons is advising Taduran not to lose focus, saying Perez is a solid challenger who has what it takes to mess up all of their plans.

“I am just focused on this fight. One fight at a time,” Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE from Las Vegas, where he has been training since the second week of January.

Before the end of the month, the southpaw Taduran will reunite with his trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr., whose travel documents are being finalized.