Brad Strand v Ionut Baluta - Tale of the Tape: Weight, height, reach, trainers, records & more

We analyse the statistics and credentials of Brad Strand and Ionut Baluta as the two fighters edge ever nearer to the WBO European super-bantamweight showdown on Saturday 15th March, 2025.

If you’re matched against Ionut Baluta these days it means one of two things...

Either you haven’t been tested yet or you’ve suffered a defeat and it’s time to find out what direction your career is travelling in.

Brad Strad falls into the latter category, and, on Saturday 15th March, in Liverpool, the super-bantamweight knows he has to win by whatever means necessary, otherwise he will fall further down the pecking order.

Will the Scouser manage to delight the thousands in attendance or will Baluta break their hearts?

Before we find out, let's take a look at the 'Tale of the Tape'.

Brad Strand v Ionut Baluta - Tale of the Tape

	Brad Strand	Ionut Baluta
Age:	27	31
Nickname:	Everton Red Triangle	'Il Capo'
Height:	N/A	5ft 10.5ins
Reach:	N/A	73ins
Weight:	Super-bantamweight	Super-bantamweight
Trainer:	Paul Stevenson	Josh Burnham
Record:	12-1 (4 KOs)	16-5-1 (3 KOs)
Last Fight:	Won (PTS) v Marvin Solano (October 2024)	Lost (UD) v Dennis McCann (June 2024)

Brad Strand - In Profile

Losing a fight will tell you a lot more about yourself than winning one, and Brad Strand is now in a position where his defeat to Dennis McCann 11 months ago will either make or break his career.

The Liverpudlian did shake off the ring-rust with a knockout victory in an eight rounder last October, but the real test is still to come - on Saturday 15th March.

Putting him in against Ionut Baluta is the perfect way to find exactly where Strand is at, because from the off, he will be under constant pressure.

His defeat for the British and Commonwealth super-bantamweight titles could be looked at another way, however.

It's entirely possible that he will have learned far more from that loss than from any of his previous victories, and that he will come back rejuvenated, re-energised and in better shape than ever before to elevate himself to number one spot in the UK.

There's very little separating the two fighters in the betting, which tells us that this, at least on paper, is a 50-50 fight.

If Strand can box to orders, and remain disciplined, then he possesses the tools and skillset to prevail via the judges scorecards, but against an opponent like Baluta, it will be easier said than done.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Busy with the lead hand	Loses his shape
Closes the distance quickly	Open to straight punches
Hand speed	Moves back in straight lines
One-two combination	Lacks punch power

Ionut Baluta - In Profile

Since October 2019, Ionut Bauta has fought eight times in the UK and his ninth takes place at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in March.

Kyle Williams, Davey Joyce, Michael Conlan, Brad Foster, Liam Davies, Andrew Cain and Dennis McCann know exactly the type of fighter and handful the Spanish-based Romanian is.

Irishman TJ Doheny, a former super-bantamweight world champion, knows better than most because he suffered a shock loss to him in Dubai four years ago.

Baluta also handed Brad Foster his second consecutive defeat and delivered another shock by upsetting the odds to beat Liverpool hot-shot Andrew Cain.

The Romanian is not to be treated lightly under any circumstances, and having gone the distance with McCann last time out, he isn't a fighter who can be dispatched of easily.

On the other hands, he will back himself to land that telling blow, so expect expect to see the 31-year-old charge straight at Strand believing the power coming back won’t deter him.

It should provide for a fascinating spectacle.

Strengths	Weaknesses
Applies pressure	Open to straight shots
Work rate	Head falls over front foot
Chin	Leaves his chin in the air
Body shots	Accuracy