Pedro Taduran is less than 10 days away from risking his world title on hostile ground.
Even if he and chief trainer Jonathan Peñalosa have covered all the bases, the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight champion remains extremely cautious as his 24 May rematch with Ginjiro Shigeoka in Osaka, Japan, approaches.
“I am still reviewing and watching our first fight,” said Taduran, who is making the first defense of the IBF 105-pound title at the Intex Osaka.
“I want to make sure that I would fight a perfect fight because Shiegoka remains a dangerous guy. I want to come up with a perfect gameplan,” he said.
Taduran beat fellow southpaw Shigeoka to a bloody pulp in July last year in Otsu City with the fallen Japanese being stretchered out of the ring for examination in a local hospital.
Still, the Filipino punching machine considers his one-time victim a livewire opponent, one who’s out for vengeance in a clash that many say will be another slugfest and that would end in a violent manner once more.
Shigeoka rumbled like a mad man against Taduran, who was delighted that he didn’t have to make an effort to chase down his much younger foe.
By the time the American referee Steve Willies called a halt to the fight in the final seconds of the ninth round, Shiegoka was fighting with one eye, his face all puffed up and badly bruised after absorbing Taduran’s non-stop assault from start to finish.
As he winds down his training camp, Taduran will be holding his last sparring session Friday at the Elorde Sports Center on Sucat Road, Paranaque, in time for his team’s departure for Japan this Sunday.
Accompanying the Bicol-born Taduran are co-managers Marty and Cucuy Elorde and Peñalosa of course, who will call the shots on fight night.
Taduran is one of just two Filipino world champions at the moment aside from fellow 105-pounder Melvin Jerusalem, who holds the World Boxing Council belt.
Last November, Taduran was booked to defend against Zhu Dianxing of China on Jeju Island in Korea but it was called off after the Vietnam-based Korean promoter encountered sponsorship woes.
Despite the inactivity, Taduran, 30, regularly trained to make sure he doesn’t go out of shape.
Shigeoka, 25, hasn’t also fought since suffering that Taduran beatdown 10 months ago.