Back against the wall

A purse bid looms on the horizon as the camp of reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran and Chinese mandatory challenger Zhu Dianxing have yet to get a deal in place for a fight in October.

Both camps have started exchanging offer sheets with Zhu’s party luring Taduran to Luzhou in Sichuan Province.

“Preparations for the event are progressing in an orderly manner,” said Zhu’s people said in a letter to Taduran’s camp.

The handlers of Taduran are also moving heaven and earth to keep the fight on Philippine soil.

The Bicol-born southpaw is represented by American dealmaker Sean Gibbons and Elorde siblings Marty and Cucuy.

This month, the IBF is likely to order a purse bid if Zhu and Taduran fail to come to terms.

Taduran is coming off a resounding sixth-round knockout of Gustavo Perez Alvarez of Mexico in a slugfest held last April in Temecula, California.

Zhu assumed the role of mandatory challenger after beating Filipino Ian Abne last May in Cebu.

While Taduran is mandated to face Zhu, this fight could be shelved in the event a unification fight gets done.

The unification route being eyed is against Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo, who holds the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association 105-pound straps.

The Zhu fight could be put on hold since a unification fight supersedes a mandatory defense, according to rules.

While negotiations are ongoing, Taduran is taking a break from training by staying with his family in Cabuyao, Laguna.

But Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE on Thursday that he is set to reunite with chief trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr. next week at the Elorde Sports Center.

He is also scheduled for an appearance at the US Embassy in Manila late this month.

Taduran parades a 25-4-1 win-loss-draw card with 14 knockouts.

Zhu, meanwhile, packs a 17-1-0 slate with 14 knockouts and his beatdown of Abne extended his winning streak to 14 bouts.