Pedro Taduran vs Christian Balunan Preview Oct. 26th, 2025
IBF Minimumweight Champion (strawweight 105 lbs) Pedro Taduran of the Philippines will be putting his belt on the line this Sunday, October 26th when he takes on unbeaten fellow countryman Christian Balunan in Manila. Taduran last fought in May when he edged former champion Ginjiro Shigeoka of Japan in a split decision in a rematch. The two originally met in July, 2024 with Taduran winning via a ninth-round TKO in an upset. Balunan last stepped into the ring in December when he beat Robert Raradero via a fifth-round technical decision.
Taduran vs Balunan Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Christian Balunan +1100
- Pedro Taduran -2000
My Pick
Taduran is a 28-year-old southpaw and carries around a record of 18-4-1 with 13 Ko’s and has 128 rounds of pro experience under his belt since making his debut in 2015 following his amateur career. He packs a pretty good punch as 72.2 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. However he’s won just four of his last seven fights with two defeats and a draw and has recorded just two stoppages in that span.
Taduran’s first loss came at the hands of Joel Lino by six-round split decision in 2016. He dropped a 12-round unanimous decision to Chayaphon Moonsri in 2018 in a shot at the WBC Minimumweight title and had points deducted in the eighth and 11th rounds for low blows. Taduran won the vacant IBF Title in 2019 when he halted Samuel Salva in the fourth round. His first defence was a four-round technical draw with Daniel Vallardes in 2020 and he then lost the belt in 2021 when Rene Mark Cuarto beat him by a close unanimous decision.
Taduran lost a seven-round technical decision in their rematch 12 months later. He was dropped in the second and sixth rounds while Cuarto was deducted two points in round three for an intentional headbutt. The contest was then stopped when Taduran suffered a cut forehead due to an accidental butt. As a pro, he’s also won the vacant Philippines Minimumweight Belt. He measures 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64.5-inch reach which means he gives up two inches in height to Balunan.
The 25-year-old Balunan climbs through the ropes with a perfect mark of 12-0 with 7 Ko’s and has boxed 44 rounds since making his pro debut in 2021. He stands 5-feet-6-inches tall but unfortunately there’s no reach information available for him. In 2023 he captured the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth Minimimweight Belt with a third-round knockout over Aditep Maungcharoen.
As far as power is concerned, Balunan’s current knockout ratio clocks in at 58.3 per cent and three of his last four wins have come by stoppage. He’s never fought outside of his homeland though and has taken in limited local opposition as a pro so is taking a pretty big leap in class this weekend. So far, just six of Balunan’s 12 opponents entered the ring with a winning record to their name.
Prediction…
Shigeoka was favoured against Taduran but the Filipino really looked impressive in both fights as his power, size and skills took him by surprise and he simply wasn’t prepared for what Taduran brought to the table. Taduran proved he has the tools to beat Shigeoka twice and if he performs that way against Balunan I really don’t see how he could lose his title this weekend. We’ll also see what type of chin Balunan possesses.
Taduran has power and superior skills.
Play Taduran -2000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Christian Balunan betting • Pedro Taduran betting