Pedro Taduran vs. Christian Balunan

Thrilla in Manila II Countdown

Date	October 26, 2025
Venue	San Andres Sports Complex, Manila, Philippines
Title(s) on the line	International Boxing Federation (IBF) mini-flyweight title.
Tale of the tape
Boxer Pedro Taduran Christian Balunan Nickname "Kid Pedro Heneral" "Punchtian" Hometown Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines Consolacion, Cebu, Philippines Pre-fight record 18–4–1 (13 KO) 12–0 (7 KO) Age 28 years, 11 months 23 years, 8 months Height 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Style Southpaw Orthodox Recognition IBF mini-flyweight world champion The Ring No. 2 ranked mini-flyweight TBRB No. 2 ranked mini-flyweight IBF No. 2 ranked mini-flyweight
Result
TBA

Pedro Taduran vs. Christian Balunan, billed as Thrilla in Manila II Countdown is an upcoming professional early boxing event dedicated as the 50th Year Anniversary of the historic Thrilla in Manila between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. The event is headlined between mini-flyweight champion Pedro Taduran and undefeated challenger Christian Balunan for the IBF mini-flyweight championship of the world on October 26, 2025. ^[1]

Background

San Andres Sports Complex, the venue of the event.

On early September 2025, early hints and buildups were made between reigning IBF mini-flyweight champion Pedro Taduran and undefeated contender Christian Balunan, to serve as a prelude event for the Thrilla in Manila II, to be held on October 26, 2025, three days before the Thrilla in Manila II event, it was originally reported to be in a soon-to-be-announced Quezon City venue, where the Thrilla in Manila II will also be talking place. ^[2]

On September 15, 2025, Viva Promotions officialy announced the event on their Facebook page, it will take place on 26 October 2025, like said, but will instead take place in San Andres Sports Complex, Malate, Manila City, opposing the originally speculated Quezon City, the event will also be promoted by MP Promotions. The undercard includes previously-returning Rex Tso and former OPBF champion Miel Fajardo in an IBF Pan Pacific-titled bouts separately, also on the undercards are Filipino prospects, notably 13–0 Lienard Sarcon. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Fight card

Confirmed bouts:

Weight Class		vs.		Method	Round	Time	Notes
Mini-flyweight	Pedro Taduran (c)	vs.	Christian Balunan		– (12)		Note 1
Flyweight	Miel Fajardo	vs.	Esneth Domingo		– (10)		Note 2
Bantamweight	Rex Tso	vs.	Sagar Chouhan		– (10)		Note 3
Featherweight	Lienard Sarcon	vs.	Junebirt Bantay		– (10)
Mini-flyweight	Joperson Trazo	vs.	Carlo Diaz VII		– (10)
Mini-flyweight	Zyvyr John Medecilo	vs.	Richard Garde		– (8)
Bantamweight	Noli James Maquilan	vs.	Argelou Samson		– (8)
Flyweight	Arvin Jhon Paciones	vs.	Jeraldine Ocrarit		– (8)
Super flyweight	Claire Villarosa	vs.	John Rey Labajo		– (8)		Note 4
Bantamweight	Gretel de Paz	vs.	Charimae Salvador		– (8)		Note 5
Light heavyweight	Mohammad Hudzaifah	vs.	TBA		– (4)
Super featherweight	Khairul Azim	vs.	TBA		– (4)
Light flyweight	Jerimy Balino	vs.	Eljan Balagtas		– (4)
Mini-flyweight	Mike Gerente	vs.	Jian Denver Mananquil		– (4)

^Note 1 For IBF mini-flyweight title
^Note 2 For vacant IBF Pan Pacific flyweight title
^Note 3 For vacant IBF Pan Pacific bantamweight title
^Note 4 For vacant GAB Youth super flyweight title
^Note 5 For vacant GAB female bantamweight title

See also

• Thrilla in Manila: The 50th Anniversary

References

1. ABS-CBN News (September 25, 2025). "Boxing: Taduran's title defense to prelude Thrilla in Manila 2". www.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
2. Giongco, Nick (September 9, 2025). "Height is might?". tribune.net.ph. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
3. Viva Promotions (September 15, 2025). "COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA: IBF World Title Match". facebook.com. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
4. Rosal, Glendale G. (September 16, 2025). "Cebu's Balunan gets IBF world title shot vs champ Taduran on Oct. 26". cebudailynews.inquirer.net. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
5. Magallon, Reynald I. (September 16, 2025). "Pedro Taduran to star in 'Thrilla' countdown event". mb.com.ph. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
6. Aznar, Edri K. (September 16, 2025). "Balunan earns title shot". sunstar.com.ph. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
7. "BoxRec: Event". boxrec.com. Retrieved September 15, 2025.

External links

Preceded by vs. Ginjiro Shigeoka	Pedro Taduran's bouts 26 October 2025	Succeeded by vs. TBA
Preceded by vs. Robert Paradero	Christian Balunan's bouts 26 October 2025	vs. TBA