Spanish slayer

While most of the Japanese contenders are either honoring prior commitments or not interested, the camp of International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran has started to look elsewhere for fourth title defense foe.

One name has emerged from the candidates list: Brandon Moreno of Spa

Taduran was supposed to battle Zhu Dianxing of China but negotiations bogged down as the fighter’s management and promotional teams got involved in a feud.

Zhu assumed the role of mandatory challenger last May after beating Filipino Ian Abne in their title elimination match in Cebu City.

Initially, American dealmaker Sean Gibbons wanted to strike a deal with one of the Japanese contenders listed in the IBF’s 15-man listing.

Gibbons didn’t get not even one positive feedback.

“They all don’t want to have anything to do with Pedro,” Gibbons reported, pointing to the Filipino southpaw’s growing notoriety.

Taduran, the one and only reigning Filipino world boxing champion, is best remembered by Japanese fight fans for the two brutal beatings he inflicted on Ginjiro Shigeoka in 2024 and 2025.

The first one took place in Otsu City in late-July when Taduran was awarded a technical knockout win in the ninth round to bag the IBF 105-pound plum.

In the rematch 10 months later in Osaka, Taduran beat Shigeoka on points but Shigeoka collapsed on top of the ring right after the official decision was announced.

He remained hospitalized until February owing to the severe injuries he absorbed from Taduran’s furious fists.

Moreno, 33, hailing from Madrid, holds an undefeated record of 16-0-0 with five knockouts.

Gibbons is eagerly awaiting the release of the newest IBF rankings before making his next move.

Taduran last fought in April in the United States where he stopped Gustavo Perez Alvarez of Mexico in six rounds at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.