How does a clash between two Filipino world champions appeal to you?
Admit it. You like it, right?
This matchup — between Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran — could happen.
Both are coming off successful defenses of their respective world titles.
Only a couple of days ago, Jerusalem defeated Siyakholwa Kuse of South Africa on a unanimous decision to retain the World Boxing Council strawweight title for the third time during the Thrilla in Manila’s golden anniversary celebration at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Taduran beat compatriot Christian Balunan via a lopsided decision at the San Andres Sports Complex last Sunday. It was the southpaw Taduran’s second defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight diadem.
The two aren’t actually going desperate in their respective bids to become undisputed champion.
But they both believe that fighting one another could lead to their ultimate goal: Oscar Collazo.
The unbeaten Puerto Rican holds the two other world title belts in the 105-pound class and that’s what Jerusalem and Taduran are aiming for.
“If I can’t get a fight with Collazo in my next fight, then I am amenable to face Jerusalem. If that’s the only way I can secure a shot at Collazo, then I am willing to do just that,” Taduran said after handily beating the erstwhile unbeaten Balunan.
Jerusalem, though not as hot on the idea as Taduran, swears he is willing to fight the IBF champion as a victory would put him closer to Collazo, who has the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization straps.
“I would rather defend against a non-Filipino but if it can no longer be avoided, then I will fight Taduran,” Jerusalem said.
Sean Gibbons, the influential American dealmaker who represents a bevy of Filipino ring talents including Taduran, said that a Collazo-Taduran duel is his ideal matchup at the moment.
“I will be contacting Golden Boy and convince them that this is the fight to make,” Gibbons said.
However, if Golden Boy decides to delay a date with Taduran, Gibbons said an attractive alternative is for the Los Angeles-based promotional outfit to include Taduran in the undercard of a Collazo defense.