Pedro Taduran to headline ‘Thrilla in Manila’ countdown card

Filipino champion Pedro Taduran is set to defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Minimumweight crown as the main event in the Thrilla in Manila 2 countdown card on Oct. 26 at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.

Taduran will face Cebuano prospect Christian Balunan in an all-Filipino affair for the 105-pound strap, after triumphing against Japanese Ginjiro Shigeoka for the second time last May via split decision.

The Japanese nearly fell unconscious after the fight and later required brain surgery to prevent the bleeding from his brain.

The fight was not originally supposed to happen as Balunan was set to face former world champion Vic Saludar in a title eliminator, but it was later scrapped. The Cebuano gained a direct shot at Taduran’s title due to him being the highest-ranked contender available in the IBF rankings.

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IBF Minimumweight Champion Pedro Taduran vs IBF Mandatory Challenger Christian Balunan, Two of the… pic.twitter.com/AfswGBBx6b

— Powcast Sports (@POWCASTSPORTS) September 15, 2025

Taduran, an Albay native, boasts an 18-4-1 win-loss-draw slate, while Balunan is unbeaten with 12 wins and no draws.

Meanwhile, World Boxing Council (WBC) Minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem will defend his title against South Africa’s Siyakholwa Kuse as the headliner for the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s Thrilla in Manila.

Olympian Eumir Marcial, former world champion Marlon Tapales, Carl Jammes Martin, and Emman Bacosa will compete in the undercard.

Taduran and Balunan will go head-to-head on Oct 26, while the Thrilla in Manila 2 event will take place on Oct. 29, organized by MP Promotions and Blow-by-Blow.

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