An all-Filipino clash is in store to determine the next mandatory challenger to the IBF strawweight title.

BoxingScene.com has confirmed that a deal was reached for the ordered Jake Amparo-Pedro Taduran bout, thus avoiding a purse bid hearing. The two sides came to terms just before the assigned 15-day deadline, with plans to stage the bout on December 28 in Amparo’s hometown of Bohol, Philippines.

“The IBF has granted tentative sanction approval for the IBF Mini Flyweight Eliminator for # 1 between Jake Amparo and Pedro Taduran,” IBF Championship Committee chairman Carlos Ortiz said in a ruling obtained by Boxing Scene. “ Formal sanction will be granted once the IBF receives the signed contracts for this bout.”

Per IBF rule 2.A covering contracts for title fights and eliminators, the sanctioning body must receive signed bout agreements “no later than fifteen (15) days following tentative sanction approval. A form Bout Contract is available on the IBF website. If the Challenger does not sign the contract, the IBF will offer the bout to the 4 leading available contender or will withdraw sanction of the bout. If the Champion does not sign the contract, disciplinary action will be taken which can include vacating the title.”

The winner will become the mandatory challenger to whomever prevails in the Daniel Valladares-Ginjiro Shigeoka title consolidation rematch this Saturday in Tokyo.

Manila’s Taduran (15-4-1, 12KOs) has fought just once since back-to-back defeats to countryman Rene Mark Cuarto to end his 17-month IBF strawweight title reign. He won the vacant belt in a September 2019 fourth-round stoppage of unbeaten Samuel Salva.

His lone successful defense came in a technical draw versus Valladares in their February 2020 title fight in Guadalupe, Mexico. A clash of heads in the first round left Valladares cut and unable to continue at the end of the fourth round upon the advice of the ringside physician.

Taduran’s lone win since then was a January 30 stoppage of sub .500 opponent Powell Balab in Paranaque City.

Amparo (14-4-1, 3KOs) will aim to bid for his first major title with a win in the ordered eliminator.

The 26-year-old from Bohol has won three in a row since a split decision defeat to unbeaten Huu Toan Le last November 30 on the road in Bangkok. He came up big away from his native Philippines in his most recent outing, a twelve-round, unanimous decision over then-unbeaten Goki Kobayashi on August 5 in Kobe, Japan.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox