IBF champ gets camp-ready

Pedro Taduran, the country’s lone world boxing champion, is reporting back for training this coming week as his team scrambles to put a deal in place for a mandatory defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title in October.

“I will be back in the gym on Monday,” Taduran told DAILY TRIBUNE on Friday.

Having defended the title for the third time last April in the United States, the southpaw Taduran is obligated to face Chinese Zhu Dianxing.

There is an offer to fight in Luzhou, China, but American dealmaker Sean Gibbons insists that holding the fight on Philippine soil is the target.

When he shows up at the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque, Taduran will be met there by his trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr.

Gibbons is closely working with Taduran’s managers — Elorde siblings Marty and Cucuy — to bring Zhu to the Philippines instead of defending the IBF 105-pound strap on enemy territory.

In his last defense, Taduran battered Mexican Gustavo Perez Alvarez in six rounds at the Pechanga Resort Casino In Temecula, California.

Taduran had won the crown by beating up Ginjiro Shigeoka of Japan almost two years ago in Otsu City, Japan.

Then came a rematch with Shigeoka, who Taduran defeated again, this time in Osaka, ten months later.

Last October — during the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila — Taduran outclassed compatriot Christian Balunan over 12 rounds.

Zhu assumed the status of Taduran’s mandatory challenger after mauling Filipino Ian Abne in their IBF title elimination clash last May in Cebu City.