Last summer, Pedro Taduran upset highly-touted IBF strawweight titlist Ginjiro Shigeoka to become a two-time 105-pound champion.

Taduran, rated at No. 2 by The Ring at strawweight, gave the previously unbeaten Japanese fighter a frightful beating, breaking his right orbital bone en route to a ninth-round stoppage.

Fast forward 10 months and the two will meet in a rematch on the undercard of Angelo Leo-Tomoki Kameda at Intex Osaka, Osaka, Japan, on Saturday.

"I'm preparing hard for this fight," Taduran (17-4-1, 13 knockouts) told The Ring with the help of retired former world title challenger Juan Miguel Elorde. "I am going to do my best but I will be fine in the fight.

"I want to thank all the supporters and those who are praying for my victory."

Taduran, who previously held the same title from 2019-21, is, of course, pleased to have become champion again.

"It was a big accomplishment for me to be a two-time champion," he said proudly. "It's different now. I have reached my goal to be world champion again."

Taduran has been preparing for the rematch for three-months at the Elorde Gym Sucat in Manila, under the watchful eye of Carl Penalosa.

The 28-year-old Filipino southpaw, who travelled to Japan on May 18, doesn't expect Shigeoka to engage with him after suffering at his hands last time out.

"I expect Ginjiro to run, he's not going to go toe-to-toe with me," said Taduran. "I am going to chase him. I am going to defend the uppercut and hook because I was hit last time. He's fast and strong, with good footwork."

Taduran is forthright about what the future holds.

"I'm not going to move up in weight," he said. "After this fight I want a unification with Oscar Collazo. Collazo is also strong. I can beat Collazo."

Shigeoka (11-1, 9 KOs), rated at No. 4 by The Ring at strawweight, was a standout amateur before turning pro in September 2018. He notably stopped former world title challenger Rey Loreto (KO 5) in his fifth bout. Had it not been for the pandemic – he didn't fight for 18-months – the diminutive southpaw may have won a world title sooner.

The 25-year-old was doing a number on Daniel Valladares before the fight was curtailed due to a head-clash that ruled the fight a no-contest. He impressively defeated Rene Mark Cuarto (TKO 9) and then took apart Valladares (TKO 5) to claim the IBF title. He has since defended it once against late-sub Jake Amparo (KO 2) before being surprisingly upset by Taduran (TKO 9).