FLUSHED by his latest title-retention success, reigning Filipino International Boxing Federation mini flyweight champ Pedro Taduran is eyeing a unification fight with dangerous World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico.
“That’s who I want to fight next. I hope the fight is sorted out soon,” Taduran was quoted as saying by boxingcene.com writer Ryan Songalia in a story posted on the American ring website yesterday (Tuesday in the US).
“If only my fight with Collazo could go ahead and I win. There is (sic) a Filipino boxer who will be [unified champion] here in the Philippines,” said the Pinoy fighter, who retained his crown with a split decision win over Japanese challenger Ginjiro Shigeoka in Osaka, Japan over the weekend.
Veteran American promoter and MP promotions chief Sean Gibbons, who handles Taduran, informed the writer that he has made inquiries with Golden Boy Promotions and Miguel Cotto Promotions, which represent Collazo, about the possible unification match.
“Just tell me when,” Collazo tweeted alongside the flags of the Philippines and Puerto Rico, of his interest in the unification match.
Since both are volume punchers and attack nonstop, Taduran believed he would be able to keep pace with the Puerto Rican, saying: “Oscar hasn’t fought anyone like me yet … This is a good fight if it happens.”
If ever it pushes through, Taduran, who raised his record to 18 wins, 13 by knockout, four losses and one draw, will be up against a crack opponent in the undefeated Collazo, who has not lost in 12 fights (nine KOS) in what would be another exciting battle between southpaws.
Among Collazo’s victims is current WBC mini flyweight kingpin Melvin Jerusalem, whom he soundly beat with a seventh-round stoppage on May 27, 2023 to clinch the WBO mini flyweight strap at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.
His latest victory was a fifth-round knockout triumph over Mexican Edwin Cano Hernandez last March 29 at the Poliforum Benito Juarez in Cancun, Mexico.
