Taduran progressing as expected

Pedro Taduran, the country’s lone world champion, is laser-focused while training.

His fourth title defense of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight crown against unbeaten Spanish challenger Brandon Moreno takes place on 7 November.

As of this time, the venue that is likely to host the slugfest is the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig, according to Cucuy Elorde, who manages the southpaw Taduran alongside his brother Marty Elorde.

“Pedro’s reporting for gym work every single day,” Cucuy told DAILY TRIBUNE on Friday.

Last time he defended the IBF 105-pound title, Taduran halted Mexican Gustavo Perez Alvarez in six rounds in early-April at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California.

He and his camp had called out Puerto Rican two-belt holder Oscar Collazo repeatedly for a unification showdown but they fell on deaf ears as Collazo opted to go up in weight instead of bang bodies with the volume-punching Filipino.

In fact, Collazo will make an invasion of the flyweight category next month.

Taduran is represented by American Sean Gibbons, who is in the final phase of finalizing the contract to defend against Moreno.

Undefeated in 16 fights with five knockouts, Moreno will be fighting for the first time overseas.

Since becoming the IBF champion for the second time, Taduran has defended the championship against Ginjiro Shigeoka, Christian Balunan and Alvarez.

There is also talk that Taduran could be on the way up as he is having problems getting big fights in the minimumweight class.

However, his handlers are not looking too far ahead.

There is business to be settled in November and Taduran has to look impressive.