Taduran going up in weight?

There is a plan for reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran to go up in weight.

But that’s not happening anytime soon.

Taduran will have to make a mandatory defense of the IBF 105-pound crown first before abdicating the throne, sources told DAILY TRIBUNE.

The Filipino southpaw is being lined up to defend against the undefeated Brandon Moreno of Spain in early-November. It will be Taduran’s fourth defense.

The decision to leave 105 pounds is purely business given the perennial problem of finding good fights in the division, which is boxing’s lightest.

In the event he moves up to light-flyweight, Taduran will be in the company of more marketable champions like by Thailand’s Thanongsak Simsri, who has the IBF 108-pound plum.

What weighed heavily on Taduran’s decision is the inability to lure Puerto Rican two-belt titlist Oscar Collazo in a unification showdown.

Collazo, who has made numerous defenses as World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association titleholder at 105, is going up to flyweight (112 pounds) in search of greener pastures.

Since winning the IBF title in July 2024 in Japan, Taduran has defended it with victories over Ginjiro Shiegeoka of Japan, compatriot Christian Balunan and Gustavo Perez Alvarez of Mexico.

The victory over Shigeoka that took place last year in Osaka stands out among the three.

Although Taduran could not repeat his stoppage win over Shigeoka in 2024, the Japanese was rushed to the hospital after collapsing immediately after the official decision was made by the ring announcer.

Shigeoka remained in hospital for months and it was only last February that he was allowed to go out.

Because of his reputation, Taduran is being avoided like the plague in Japan.