Reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran might end up fighting on hostile ground if his camp fails to stage his mandatory defense here at home.

Plans are afoot to hold Taduran’s fourth defense in October in Manila but it’s all hinge on whether the champion’s handlers could strike a deal with a major corporation.

Cucuy Elorde, who manages Taduran alongside brother Marty, told DAILY TRIBUNE that Chinese challenger Zhu Dianxing and his team are determined to import the Filipino southpaw to China.

Zhu earned the status of mandatory challenger after beating Filipino Ian Abne in their IBF title elimination duel last May in Cebu City.

Taduran, meanwhile, is coming off a smashing sixth-round stoppage of Gustavo Perez Alvarez of Mexico in a showdown held last April in Temecula, California.

Contacted by this paper, Taduran confirmed that the Chinese are determined to promote the fight, something he feels could backfire on his part.

“My team is doing its best to hold my title defense here since it would be very risky to defend there,” Taduran said.

The proposed fight is being eyed to take place at the Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Luzhou in Sichuan Province and Zhu’s people have been constantly sending out advisories to Taduran.

The right-handed Zhu holds a 17-4-1 win-loss-draw record with 14 knockouts while Taduran packs a 25-4-1 card with 14 knockouts.

Taduran, who hails from Libon, Albay, has repulsed Japanese Ginjiro Shigeoka, from whom he took away the IBF 105-pound strap two years ago, and compatriot Christian Balunan in his first two defenses.