The Philippines’ Pedro Taduran, the IBF minimumweight champion, is all smiles during a pre-fight press conference for his title defense against Japan’s Ginjiro Shigeoka in Osaka.–CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Wendell Alinea

Relentless from the get-go, Pedro Taduran overcame a gutsy Ginjiro Shigeoka to retain the IBF minimumweight title on Saturday at INTEX Osaka in Japan.

Taduran reasserted his mastery over Shigeoka with a split decision victory 10 months after scoring a stunning ninth-round stoppage in their first encounter in Otsu.

READ: Pedro Taduran to keep relentless pace in rematch vs Ginjiro Shigeoka

Shigeoka, who was badly beaten and bloodied in their July 2024 brawl, came out with a different game plan in the rematch.

But the tireless Taduran, who pulled no punches even in the later rounds, proved too much for the former Japanese champion.

Absorbing heavy blows from Taduran (18-4-1, 13KOs) throughout the bout, Shigeoka (11-2, 9KOs) had to be stretchered off the ring shortly after the 12-round slugfest.

A unification fight with Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo, who holds the WBA and WBO belts, could be next in line for Taduran.

READ: Pedro Taduran upsets Japan champ to reclaim IBF world title

Collazo, unbeaten in 12 fights with nine knockouts, is no stranger to facing a Filipino in a world title clash. He beat Melvin Jerusalem in May 2023 for the WBO strap.

Jerusalem has since regained his world champion status after beating Yudai Shigeoka, the older brother of Ginjiro, to claim the WBC crown in March 2024. He has successfully defended the belt twice, overwhelming Mexico’s Luis Castillo in Mandaluyong in September before repeating over Yudai two months ago in Tokoname.

An all-Filipino unification showdown between Taduran and Jerusalem is also not out of the question in the future.