Both IBF strawweight titleholder Pedro Taduran and his opponent Christian Balunan came in under the 105lbs limit for their all-Filipino world title fight on Sunday in the Philippines.
Taduran, 18-4-1 (13 KOs), and Balunan, 12-0 (7 KOs), both came in at 104.3lbs for their 12-round fight, which will take place at San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Philippines. The fight is the second title defense for the 28-year-old Taduran, who is in his second title reign after defeating Ginjiro Shigeoka twice in Japan.
Balunan, 25, is far less experienced but, at 5'6", had a pronounced height advantage over the 5'4" southpaw Taduran. Balunan, of Cebu province, was flanked by his head coach, Edito Villamor, a former world title challenger in the 1990s, while Taduran, of Albay province, was accompanied by his trainer, Carl Penalosa, the elder brother of former world champions Gerry and Dodie Boy Penalosa.
In the co-featured bout, Hong Kong boxer Rex "The Wonder Kid" Tso, 23-0 (14 KOs), will face India's Sagar Chouhan, 7-0-2 (3 KOs), in what will be Tso's second fight since ending an eight-year sabbatical from the pro ranks earlier this year. Tso weighed in at 117.7lbs for the ten-round bout, while Sagar was 118.4lbs.
The event will stream live over the Elorde TV Youtube channel.
