Pedro Taduran, Christian Balunan All Set For IBF 105-Pound Title Clash
Oct 25, 2025
1 min read
Taduran-Balunan is set to go off without a hitch, after both weighed the exact same - 104.3 pounds - before their IBF strawweight world title matchup on Sunday in Manila, Philippines.
It's all systems go for tomorrow's IBF strawweight world title fight, after defending champion Pedro Taduran and sizeable underdog Christian Balunan both weighed in at 104.3 pounds ahead of their matchup.
Topping the bill with an all-Filipino world title fight in a Manny Pacquiao Promotions show in Manila, Philippines, Taduran (18-4-1, 13 KOs) seeks to make a second successful defence of the title he skilfully snatched and retained against Ginjiro Shigeoka in Japan.
Balunan (12-0, 7 KOs) has a two-inch height advantage that he'll hope works in his favour, as he seeks to banish any doubts about his relative inexperience at championship level in what represents his first outing scheduled for 12 rounds.
Balunan's head coach Edito Villamor accepted his charge's slim odds, talking to English-language Filipino newspaper SunStar.
He said: "I trust Christian and what he did in training, he needs to focus on the fight and execute what we did, use his skills in this fight. His length is a huge advantage and if there's a chance, we'll go for the knockout."
Taduran, three years his senior, will be emboldened to produce a statement showing especially after news earlier this month confirming the IBF had accepted a request to treat Balunan as next-in-line for world honours.
That paves the way for more lucrative bouts and potential unifications, with WBC beltholder Melvin Jerusalem (24-3, 12 KOs) headlining the second of their Thrilla In Manila doubleheader on Tuesday in a defence vs. South Africa's Siyakholwa Kuse (9-2-1, 4 KOs).
Sunday's full card is as follows
IBF world strawweight title: Pedro Taduran (c) vs. Christian Balunan
Flyweight, 10 rounds: Miel Fajardo vs. Esneth Domingo
Bantamweight, 10 rounds: Rex Tso vs. Sagar Chouhan
Featherweight, 10 rounds: Leinard Sarcon vs. Junibert Bantay
Strawweight, 10 rounds: Joperson Trazo vs. Carlo Diaz VII
Strawweight, 8 rounds: Junny Bugas vs. Richard Garde
Junior bantamweight, 8 rounds: Claire Villarosa vs. John Rey Labajo
Women's bantamweight, 8 rounds: Gretel De Paz vs. Charimae Salvador
Bantamweight, 8 rounds: Noli James Maquilan vs. Angelo Samson
Analysis
Noticias de combate
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