Filipino boxing champion Pedro Taduran has grand plans set for next year.
Taduran, the IBF minimumweight titleholder, is slated for a unification slugfest with Oscar Collazo being eyed early 2026, according to MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons.
The undefeated Puerto Rican, who boasts a 13-0 card with 10 knockouts, retained his WBA and WBO belts after a contentious seventh-round stoppage of Filipino Jayson Vayson last month. Collazo hiked his record to 4-0 against Filipinos, with the list including WBC champion Melvin Jerusalem.
Taduran and his camp don’t appear worried looking ahead to the future with the Libon, Albay, native poised to successfully defend his crown before his potential showdown with Collazo.
The 28-year-old Taduran is a heavy favorite to dispatch compatriot Christian Balunan, an unheralded but unbeaten Cebuano, on Sunday’s main event at San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
The card is one of two events lined up as part of the Thrilla in Manila’s golden celebration, which culminates on Wednesday at Araneta Coliseum headlined by Jerusalem.
Taduran (18-4-1, 13KOs) flew to Japan and stunned its home bet Ginjiro Shigeoka in May last year with a ninth-round demolition to win the IBF strap before proving his upset was no fluke in their rematch 10 months later in Osaka.
Taduran has been on a tear, winning his last four fights in impressive fashion since losing to fellow Filipino Rene Mark Cuarto for a second straight time back in February 2022.
The stoic but confident Taduran is a heavy favorite against the much taller Balunan (12-0, 7KOs), who is also determined to play spoiler in the biggest bout of his career.
‘I’m used to fighting taller opponents like Balunan. Coach (Carl Peñalosa) and I prepared hard for this fight and we’ve come up with a good game plan against Balunan,’ he said.