Auckland resident Taihia, 30, has never lost at the ABA Stadium and Jackson's trainer Chris Walker, from Tauranga Box Health and Fitness, says it will be a tough battle to win tonight.
"It was a tight fight last time but I thought Gunnar did enough to take that decision on clean scoring shots and a very good left-hand jab," said Walker.
"Taihia has a very creditable record with eight wins and only one loss.
"But Gunnar is the titleholder and there is no way that he wants to relinquish that to anyone else.
"We have looked at the last fight and what we did well, and what his opponent's strengths and weaknesses are, and we feel he will come to the party with the same sort of things because of his type of style.
"We have made a few adjustments to Gunnar with regard to tactics and we are hoping they will be quite successful on the night."
Jackson's last fight was a comfortable victory over journeyman Moses Ioelu at the Lord of the Ring Tauranga Charity Boxing Challenge held at the ASB Arena last December.
Another of Walker's fighters, Scottish-born cruiserweight James Emerson, will make his professional debut on the undercard in Auckland.
