TAPALES IS A MAN ON A MISSION
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 25 Nov 2015
CEBU ? WBO No. 2 ranked bantamweight Marlon Tapales of Tubod, Lanao del Norte is working doubly hard as he approach the final three weeks of his training in preparation for his eliminator fight versus No. 1 ranked Shohei Omori of Japan on Dec. 16 for the right to face WBO bantamweight world champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand.
?He is very serious with his training. He really wants to win this fight badly,? Tapales's Filipino boxing manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud told Philboxing as Tapales winds down his daily regimen Wednesday at Salud's gym in Punta Princesa.
With a world championship fight within reach, Tapales is highly motivated to face Omori at the Japanese's own backyard at the Shimazu Arena in Kyoto. ?Kaya natin 'to,? a highly confident Tapales said.
Although not looking past his Japanese opponent, Tapales's eyes glistened when he heard the name of the champion Pungluang Sor Singyu. ?I want that fight,? Tapales said. ?It will be a real rumble because I know Pungluang will never back out.?
Omori, a southpaw, is by no means a walk in the park for Tapales. The Japanese is undefeated in 15 fights with 10 knockouts, 7 of the stoppages he inflicted on his last 8 opponents. Additionally Omori stands at 5'8?, 4 inches taller than the Filipino.
But the height advantage of the Japanese does not concern Tapales. ?He's been sparring regularly with [WBC and Ring bantamweight champion Shinsuke] Yamanaka who is about the same height as Omori,? Salud said. ?And Tapales looks good in his sparring against Yamanaka,? Salud added.
Tapales (27-2-0, 10KO) last lost to Mexican David Sanchez by majority decision at Sanchez's hometown in Hermosillo on Feb. 23, 2013 for the interim WBC Silver super flyweight title but after that Tapales racked up six straight wins the last one was a two-round stoppage of Jecker Buhawi in Davao City on Jan. 31, 2015.
Tapales, who is currently being trained by former boxer Fernando Ocon, has already logged more than 60 rounds of sparring against his three southpaw sparring partners that includes lightweight Anthony Sabalde (10-4-0, 5KO) and featherweight Jason Redondo (11-3-1, 7KO). Tapales expects to log 40 more rounds of sparring before his team leaves for Japan on Dec. 13.
Photo: Filipino contender Marlon Tapales (R) poses with his manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud at Salud's Gym in Punta Princesa, Cebu City Wednesday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
Sat, 19 Apr 2025JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
Sat, 19 Apr 2025June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Sat, 19 Apr 2025H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
Sat, 19 Apr 2025FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Apr 2025SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
Fri, 18 Apr 2025UFC® RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY WITH BLOCKBUSER CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION LEO ATANG SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Fri, 18 Apr 2025“KING” RYAN GARCIA SAN DIEGO MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
Fri, 18 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM ORLANDO FLORIDA
Fri, 18 Apr 2025Super Lightweight Israel Mercado Looks to Keep Momentum Going this Saturday in Long Beach
Fri, 18 Apr 2025Middleweight Slugger Raul Salomon Returns to Action April 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
Fri, 18 Apr 2025