FILIPINO VS FILIPINO? Taduran willing to face Jerusalem in bid to become undisputed champion

Sports

PEDRO Taduran Jr. is one of just two reigning Filipino world boxing champions. If it would take facing his fellow Filipino champion to realize his dream of becoming an undisputed champion, Taduran is ready to mix it up.

Taduran, the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) world mini flyweight titlist, said he is ready to square off with World Boxing Council (WBC) holder Melvin Jerusalem in the future if it is the only way to achieve his goal of becoming the first-ever undisputed Filipino champion.

An undisputed champion is a boxer who holds all four major championship belts (IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO) in a division.

Taduran is set to defend his title against Ginjiro Shigeoka next Saturday, May 24, in Osaka, Japan.

Jerusalem has expressed interest in fighting Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo, who unified the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) belts after beating Thai Knockout CP Freshmart via a seventh-round TKO.

Taduran and Jerusalem will have to take care of their respective businesses first for an all-Filipino duel to materialize.

“Posible pong magkalaban kami, kasi kung sinong manalo laban dun kay [Oscar] Collazo, posible po talaga may mag-undisputed champion samin,” said Taduran in a report by Manila Bulletin.

Taduran emphasized that becoming the first undisputed Filipino champion is an ultimate dream.

“Para po may unang Pinoy na makakuha nun, yun po talaga ang goal ko sa future,” he added.

While pitting two Filipino fighters in a mega fight may raise some eyebrows, Taduran sees nothing wrong with it.

“Siguro po okay lang yun kasi may mga ibang lahi nga naglalaban, mga Hapon, Mexicano naglalaban din sila isa’t-isa” Taduran continued. “Para naman yun sa karangalan ng bayan, all love pa rin,” he said.

While he discussed his future plans, Taduran clarified that his focus is on his upcoming match.

Taduran, who holds a 17-4-1 win-loss-draw record, vowed to go all-out against Shigeoka (11-1-0). The two boxers battled in July 2024 where Taduran scored an impressive ninth-round TKO.(CCM)