IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran Jr. has set his sights on a major unification showdown, declaring his intent to face either Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo or fellow Filipino Melvin Jerusalem following his dominant title defense over Christian Balunan on Sunday night.
Taduran, who retained his belt via a unanimous decision at the San Andrés Sports Complex in Manila, is eager to test himself against Collazo — the reigning WBA, WBO, and The Ring Magazine minimumweight champion — in what would be a blockbuster unification clash.
“Ang inaabangan ko sana makasagupa si Collazo o kaya si Jerusalem… kahit saan, kahit kailan — kahit end of December, laban ako,” said Taduran, 28.
If the Collazo fight doesn’t materialize, Taduran is open to facing Jerusalem, the current WBC titleholder, to bring all four major belts under one Filipino banner.
On Sunday, Taduran displayed the form of a champion ready for such a stage, overwhelming Balunan over 12 rounds. The judges scored it 118-110, 118-110, and 117-111, all for the defending champion, who improved his record to 18 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
From the opening bell, Taduran dictated the pace with relentless aggression and sharp execution. His pressure broke Balunan’s rhythm and left visible damage as the fight wore on. The southpaw even scored a knockdown in the eighth round before cruising to victory.
The win marked Taduran’s most commanding world title performance yet, coming after regaining his IBF crown in July 2024 with a stoppage of Ginjiro Shigeoka, followed by a hard-fought split-decision win in their May rematch.
Balunan, previously unbeaten in 12 fights, suffered his first career defeat but showed toughness in going the distance against the seasoned champion.
For Taduran, the goal now is clear — to unify the minimumweight division and stake his claim as the undisputed best in the world.
