Heading into a rematch of one of 2024’s best fights, Pedro Taduran likes his chances of going 2-for-2 against Ginjiro Shigeoka.
“Kid Heneral” Taduran marched into Japan last July and left with the IBF strawweight title after stopping Shigeoka in nine rounds. The loss was the first for Shigeoka, while Taduran was able to reclaim the title he had lost in 2021 to Rene Mark Cuarto.
Now Taduran, 17-4-1 (13 KOs), will try to show that the first win wasn’t a fluke when he faces Shigeoka once more Friday at Intex Osaka in Osaka, Japan.
Although Taduran admits that Shigeoka has power and speed, he tells BoxingScene, “He's not difficult to fight, because I've beaten him before. His style gets ruined when the opponent is a fighter.”
The 25-year-old Shigeoka, of Tokyo, who knocked out Cuarto in nine rounds back in 2023 to win the interim IBF title, upgraded his title to full status later that year by stopping Mexico’s Daniel Valladares in five rounds on the same card in which his older brother Yudai defeated Panya Pradabsri to win the WBC version of the 105lbs title. The two would lose their belts, ironically both times against former titleholders from the Philippines, as Yudai Shigeoka was outpointed by Melvin Jerusalem the following year.
Although Yudai fell short in his attempt to avenge the Jerusalem loss, dropping a unanimous decision in their rematch this past March, Ginjiro is hoping he can turn the tables on the only fighter to beat him.
The first all-southpaw showdown between Taduran and Shigeoka was a war from the opening bell, as Shigeoka, 11-1 (9 KOs), elected to stand and trade against the aggressive Taduran, which played into the Filipino’s hands.
“We will do better if he lost the first time because that is his weakness,” said Taduran, a native of Libon, Albay, in the Philippines, who now lives in Cabuyao, Laguna, where his wife works as a school teacher.
The Shigeoka rematch will be the first title defense for Taduran, after a planned defense against China’s Zhu Dianxing that was scheduled for this past November was canceled. Taduran says he stayed in shape by doing light training until this fight came around.
Taduran arrived in Japan this past Sunday with trainer Carl Penalosa after wrapping up training camp at Elorde Boxing Gym in the Sucat section of Paranaque City, Philippines.
Taduran manager Cucuy Elorde, the youngest daughter of former boxing great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde, says Taduran has added motivation heading into this fight.
“We are hoping to get the [WBA/WBO titleholder Oscar] Collazo match if we get this win,” said Elorde.
Taduran says he hopes a match with the unbeaten Puerto Rican belt holder can be made, but he knows he first has to handle business in Osaka.
“I’m so happy because our hard work in training paid off,” said Taduran. “I'll try to improve and win again in my upcoming match.”
Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for BoxingScene.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at @ryansongalia.