Pedro "Kid Heneral" Taduran, the reigning IBF minimumweight world champion, is setting ambitious goals beyond his mandatory title defense.
After attending the "Fist of Fury 10: The Eliminator" event in Cebu, Taduran expressed his desire for a unification bout against WBO champion Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico.
This highly anticipated match could occur on the undercard of the upcoming Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather rematch in Las Vegas this September.
Aiming for Greatness
Taduran, one of only two current Filipino world champions, attended the event as a special guest alongside his manager Cucuy Elorde and promoter Lorenzo "Chao" Sy.
The main event featured DianXing Zhu from China, who secured a unanimous decision victory over Filipino contender Ian Abne, becoming Taduran's mandatory challenger.
From ringside, Taduran praised the fighters, noting, "It was a great fight that went 12 rounds; both were tough, especially Abne."
Next Steps
Despite acknowledging the upcoming mandatory defense against Zhu, Taduran emphasized that his primary focus remains on securing a match with Collazo.
"My next fight is being arranged, possibly in August or September. Collazo is my priority since he holds two belts," said Taduran.
He added, "I might return to the U.S. in July, potentially to fight Collazo on the Pacquiao-Mayweather undercard."
Elevating Filipino Boxing
For Taduran, defeating Collazo would not only be a title fight but a chance to elevate Filipino boxing on the world stage.
He shared insights on how his recent training in the U.S. improved his skills, helping him adapt to the environment and prepare for significant bouts.
Promoter Sy has expressed willingness to host Taduran's mandatory title defense against Zhu in Cebu, further highlighting the local support for the champion.