Balunan bent on shocking IBF titlist Taduran

MANILA, Philippines — Cebuano boxer Christian Balunan is eager to buck the odds and grab the IBF World Minimumweight championship from champion and countryman Pedro Taduran as they slug it out on Sunday.

The two fighters will go to war in the main event of the Thrilla in Manila II Countdown at the San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.

The two tipped the scales at 104.3 pounds during the official weigh-in Saturday morning.

During the pre-match post conference, Balunan said he is not minding his underdog status.

It is not pressure he feels, he stressed, but it gives him more motivation to go toe-to-toe with the champion.

“Hindi po [ako natatakot]. Mas gusto ko yung macha-challenge ako,” he told reporters.

“Ang nafi-feel ko is mas excited ako dahil dehado ako. Iniisip nila na underdog ako, so mas nacha-challenge ako na talunin siya bukas. Gagawin ko makakaya ko. Magsusuntukan lang naman kami bukas,” he added.

Balunan is currently undefeated through 12 matches. The 5-foot-6 pug from Consolacion, Cebu has seven wins via knockout.

“Pinaka-importante ito dahil ito ang gateway ko para maging world champion at mabigyan ng mgandang buhay ang pamilkya ko at yung taong sumusuporta sa akin,” Balunan said.

However, it will not be easy to grab a win against Taduran, who is holding an 18-4 win-loss record, with 13 victories coming via knockout.

The 28-year-old titleholder said that his team already has a game plan against his opponent, who has a two-inch height advantage and is three years his junior.

“Gusto kong manatili aang belt dahil pinaghirapan ko ito. Mas sipagan pa,” he said.

The card’s co-main event is an IBF Pan Pacific flyweight championship match between Miel Fajardo and Esneth Domingo, while Rex Tso and Sagar Chouhan will also battle it out for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific bantamweight belt.

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