After defeating Ginjiro Shigeoka for a second time, IBF strawweight titleholder Pedro Taduran is targeting the biggest fight at 105lbs.
Taduran, a 28-year-old Filipino slugger from Albay province, says the fight he wants to make next is a unification bout with WBA/WBO titleholder Oscar Collazo. Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, tells BoxingScene that he has already reached out to Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions, which represent the unbeaten Collazo, to inquire about making the match.
“That’s who I want to fight next. I hope the fight is sorted out soon,” said Taduran, 18-4-1 (13 KOs), after arriving back home in the Philippines following his split decision win Saturday night in Osaka, Japan.
“If only my fight with Collazo could go ahead and I win. There is a Filipino boxer who will be [unified champion] here in the Philippines.”
Collazo, 12-0 (9 KOs), of Villalba, Puerto Rico, won his first world title in May of 2023, when he stopped Melvin Jerusalem to capture the WBO belt. He added the WBA belt last November when he stopped Thailand’s Thammanoon “Knockout CP Freshmart” Niyomtrong in seven rounds, and is coming off a fifth-round knockout of Edwin Cano in March.
The 28-year-old Collazo made no mystery as to his interest in a unification showdown, tweeting afterwards, “Just tell me when” alongside the flags of the Philippines and Puerto Rico.
Asked whether he feels Collazo would have trouble keeping up with his nonstop attack, Taduran responded: “Oscar hasn't fought anyone like me yet … This is a good fight if it happens.”
Taduran isn’t the only Filipino titleholder hoping to secure a unification fight with Collazo. WBC titleholder Jerusalem, 24-3 (12 KOs), has also been campaigning for a second shot at Collazo, having regained his status as world champion by defeating Ginjiro’s older brother, Yudai, by split decision in March of 2024, and cementing his status with a unanimous decision in a March 2025 rematch.
Taduran, who is in his second reign, had a tougher time getting out in front of the 25-year-old Shigeoka, whom he had stopped in nine rounds last year to win the belt. Shigeoka boxed more than he did in their first fight, though Taduran’s nonstop pressure eventually caught up with the challenger.
“I think he really prepared, he studied my style. He also used a different style in our fight, so I had a bit of a hard time in our fight, but by the grace of God, I was able to overcome it,” said Taduran.
The shine of the victory has been dimmed by concern over the wellbeing of Shigeoka, who collapsed in his corner while Taduran was conducting his post-fight interview. Shigeoka was taken to a local hospital on a stretcher and remains hospitalized. The Japan Boxing Commission is expected to release a statement soon on his condition.
“I am sad because he had to be taken to the hospital. I hope he recovers soon,” Taduran said.