Pedro Taduran Retains IBF Title in Split-Decision Rematch
Pedro Taduran retained the IBF minimumweight championship with a split-decision win over Ginjiro Shigeoka in their rematch on May 24, 2025, at Intex Osaka in Japan. The 12-round contest ended with the judges split: two scored for Taduran and one for Shigeoka. The result gave the Filipino champion a second victory over the Japanese contender.
A competitive rematch in Osaka
Taduran and Shigeoka met for a second time after Taduran stopped Shigeoka in the ninth round of their first meeting in July 2024. The rematch went the distance, giving the judges all 12 rounds to assess. Reports described a close, physical fight, with both boxers having stretches of success as they contested the championship at close range.
The official scores were 115–113 for Taduran, 115–113 for Shigeoka, and 118–110 for Taduran. The two cards for Taduran made the outcome a split decision. The unusually wide third card contrasted with the close scores from the other judges, a reminder of how differently individual officials can view a tightly fought bout.
Taduran keeps the IBF title
The win kept the IBF belt with Taduran and extended his run as one of the Philippines’ leading minimumweight champions. Beating the same opponent twice also strengthened the significance of the result: Shigeoka had been a former titleholder and entered the rematch seeking to reclaim the championship on home soil.
Shigeoka was taken from the ring on a stretcher after the bout, according to contemporaneous boxing coverage. That post-fight development drew attention alongside the result and underscored the physical demands of a 12-round title fight.
What the result means
For Taduran, the split decision represented a successful defense in a rematch that tested him over the full distance. For Shigeoka, it was a narrow defeat on the scorecards after a hard-fought challenge. Any future title plans or unification matchups should be treated as unconfirmed until the relevant camps or sanctioning bodies announce them.
The final scorecards tell the clearest story of the night: Taduran retained the IBF minimumweight title by split decision in Osaka. The bout added another chapter to the rivalry and gave the division a result to consider as its champions and contenders plan their next moves.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
