Taduran Dominates Balunan to Retain IBF Minimumweight Crown
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 26 Oct 2025
Taduran connects at Balunan with a right.
In a commanding performance on home soil, IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran successfully defended his title by dominating compatriot Christian Balunan in a 12-round decision on Sunday night at the San Andrés Sports Complex in Manila. According to reports, Taduran battered a bloodied Balunan en route to a clear win.
Judges' scores: 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111 all in favor of Taduran.
From the opening bell the 28-year-old southpaw champion set the pace, pressing forward and executing his game plan with precision. Balunan, the undefeated challenger from Cebu, attempted to use his reach and athleticism, but found himself on the back foot as Taduran’s volume, accuracy and ring generalship prevailed.
Taduran’s physicality showed in the later rounds as Balunan began bleeding — an indication of the damage inflicted. According to the coverage, Balunan’s face bore the marks of Taduran’s superior assault.
When the final bell rang, the decision came in widely in favor of the champion.
Taduran and Balunan pose after their world championship fight in Manila.
This defense adds yet another entry to Taduran’s evolving legacy. Having regained the IBF crown in July 2024 with a stoppage of Ginjiro Shigeoka, and followed up with a split-decision retention in May in a rematch with Shigeoka, this performance was his most convincing at world title level.
For Balunan — undefeated at 12-0 (7 KOs) coming in — this represented his first shot at the big stage. Despite his promise and ambition, the night belonged to the champion. Earlier in the lead-in, Balunan had voiced belief in an upset, declaring that every boxer who trains well “has a chance.”
Taduran dictated the tempo, rarely allowing Balunan to settle or deploy his longer-range skills. Taduran’s prior title fights — including the difficult rematch versus Shigeoka — appear to have sharpened his focus for this moment.
Balunan on the other hand, although taller and rangier, struggled to maintain consistent distance and lost many of the key exchanges.
With this dominant defense, Taduran now looks forward to a mouth watering unification bout against WBO and Ring champ Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico.
The all-Filipino world-title fight further underscores the Philippines’ emergence as a serious hub for the lighter weight divisions, and the evening added to the country’s rich boxing narrative. The event also served as part of the build-up to the country’s “Thrilla in Manila II” celebrations, enhancing the symbolic weight of the evening.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
Wed, 11 Feb 2026Tickets for the Inaugural “Mike Tyson Invitational” Amateur Fight Night on Saturday, March 14, in Las Vegas Are on Sale Now
Wed, 11 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Elite High Performance Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Wed, 11 Feb 2026IIEE, SAEP shared lead, PIChE won 3rd in a row in the PTC WED NEMO Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 11 Feb 2026The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
Wed, 11 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 9 FEBRUARY 2026: Figueroa Stops Ball in 12; Medina Outpoints Curiel; Asanau, Unal Win in Montreal
By Eric Armit, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Paradero gets a rematch against Francisco
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Carcedo wins WBA Asia South super welterweight title
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 10 Feb 2026Shark attack in Florida Marco “El Tiburón” Romero Making waves on Feb. 19
Tue, 10 Feb 202619-1 Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga returns on February 21 to Atlantic City
Tue, 10 Feb 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Women's Team and Squad Rosters Announced
Tue, 10 Feb 2026