How about seeing two Filipino world champions colliding in a unification fight?
Looks mouthwatering, isn’t it?
Well, that’s exactly what’s on Sean Gibbons’ mind on Friday, telling DAILY TRIBUNE that he would love to see Pedro Taduran and Melvin Jerusalem go at it this year with the winner eventually facing Oscar Collazo, the Puerto Rican two-belt titleholder.
Taduran holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown while Jerusalem has the World Boxing Council (WBC) title.
Gibbons’ idea of pitting them surfaced after the 14 March showdown between Collazo and Jerusalem in Anaheim, California, got scrapped owing to promotional issues.
“I could pitch this to DAZN and they can do it if they’re interested,” said Gibbons, whose promotional reach extends all over the world.
Jerusalem had raised hell over the decision to cancel the fight, saying he and his camp got the raw end of a deal because Collazo is going ahead with next month’s fight against a different foe.
What made it painful for Jerusalem was the fact that there was an offer for him to defend the WBC strap in Japan but he chose to go after Collazo, who has the World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association belts.
But Gibbons swears Taduran has to hurdle his third title defense of the IBF 105-pound plum against Gustavo Perez of Mexico on 3 April at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.
“Not looking past this fight on April 3rd,” added Gibbons, whose list of clients look like a veritable who’s who of Philippine boxing.
Meanwhile, Taduran’s buildup is expected to step up the notch with the arrival next week in Las Vegas of his chief trainer Carl Peñalosa Jr.