PEDRO Taduran plans to keep his IBF mini-flyweight crown on his own terms.
The Filipino champion vowed to go all-out for a knockout against Japanese challenger Ginjero Shigeoka in their rematch this Saturday in Osaka, fully aware that the 12-round bout ending up in the hands of the judges could favor the hometown bet.
“Siyempre lugar nila (yun) kaya gagawin ko talaga ang lahat para ma-knockout siya,” said Taduran prior to his departure for Japan last Sunday for his first defense of the 105lbs crown he won over Shigeoka last year.
The 28-year-old southpaw dethroned Shigeoka in their first meeting via ninth-round stoppage in the Japanese city of Otsu last July.
And now finally aware of the Filipino’s punching prowess, Taduran’s trainer Carl Penalosa Jr. knows exactly what fight plan Shigeoka’s camp will be doing.
“Ang nasa isip namin gusto talaga ng kalaban namin suntok, alis, suntok, alis. Makatapos lang ng 12 rounds, tapos delikado na kami kapag umabot ng 12 rounds. Kaya knockout talaga ang target namin,” said Penalosa.
READ Pedro Taduran stuns Japanese champ to win IBF world title
Taduran held a workout for members of the Japanese press on Tuesday, four days before his return bout with Shigeoka at the Intex Osaka Convention Center.
“Papasukin talaga namin. Pero importante yung adjustment namin kapag tumatagal yung laban,” added Penalosa. “Kaya kapag tinamaan siya (Shigeoka), hindi na namin siya titigilan. Kapag nakatama kami, buhos na, pasok, suntok na ng suntok.”
Taduran sports a 17-4-1 record including 13 KOs. He is one of two reigning Filipino world champion along with WBC mini-flyweight title holder Melvin Jerusalem.
Shigeoka (11-1, 9 KOs) suffered his first career loss against Taduran. He is the younger brother of former world champion Yudai Shigeoka, who ironically, twice lost to Jerusalem including a 12-round unanimous decision last March also in Japan.
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