Taduran Dominates Balunan to Retain IBF Minimumweight Crown

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.