Christian Balunan’s next fight will either be for a title or an opportunity that will lead to his first shot at one.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has ordered an all-Filipino final title eliminator between the unbeaten strawweight contender and former WBO titleholder Vic Saludar.
The two sides have until June 3 to reach an agreement, after which point a purse bid hearing will be scheduled.
The current titleholder is Pedro Taduran, who successfully defended his belt with a split decision over Ginjiro Shigeoka on Saturday in Osaka, Japan. Taduran originally won the belt by defeating Shigeoka last July 28 in Otsu, Japan.
Balunan, 12-0 (7 KOs), was also recently linked to a reported showdown with WBC junior flyweight titlist Panya Pradabsri, 44-2 (27 KOs). A recently circulated press release suggested the fight was scheduled, but BoxingScene has learned that talks are ongoing between the two camps.
Balunan pushed for an eliminator earlier this month. The 25-year-old contender from Cebu was originally instructed to enter talks with Joey Canoy, whose team declined the invitation, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Whether he faces Pradabsri or Saludar, the next fight for Balunan will be a desired step up in class.
Balunan has yet to fight in 2025, after a three-win 2024 campaign. None of those bouts lasted beyond the fifth round, though his most recent win – a technical decision win over Robert Paradero, 19-10-2 (13 KOs) – ended a three-fight knockout streak.
Saludar has won five in a row since back-to-back-defeats to Oscar Collazo and Erick Rosa. The disputed defeat to Rosa ended his secondary WBA “world” strawweight title reign, while a more decisive points loss to Collazo provided a setback for Saludar, a 34-year-old from Polomolok.
Collazo, 12-0 (9 KOs), has since emerged as the lineal, WBA and WBO titleholder.
Meanwhile, Saludar has punched his way back into contention. All five victories during his current streak have ended inside the distance, including a fourth-round knockout of Roldan Sasan on February 8 in Cebu City, Philippines.