TAPALES STOPS OMORI IN 2 (PHOTOS)
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Dec 2015
WBO No. 2 ranked bantamweight Marlon Tapales of the Philippines puts on a scintillating performance at the Shimazu Arena in Kyoto, Japan Wednesday night when he stopped hometown boy and WBO No. 1 ranked Shohei Omori in the 2nd round in their title eliminator fight and became the mandatory challenger to the current WBO bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand.
Tapales started like a house on fire as he sent the erstwhile undefeated Japanese boxer three times to the canvas in the first round, first with an overhand left and then a couple of rights that silenced the hometown crowd who came in full force to support the highly popular Omori. In the 2nd round Tapales connected with a lethal right cross that sent Omori crashing to the canvas for the 4th time forcing veteran referee Lou Moret to stop the fight.
A small Filipino contingent that included Tapales' manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud, trainer Fernando Ocon and former two division world champion Gerry Pe?alosa, celebrated with Tapales after the victory.
?Gerry [Pe?alosa] gave the advice to Tapales on how to handle Omori,? Salud told Philboxing. ?Before the second round, Gerry told Tapales to take Omori out with a right cross, and that was the punch that finished off Omori similar to what Pacquiao did to Hatton with his left,? Salud said.
?I thanked God for giving me this victory,? Tapales told Philboxing. ?We prepared well for this fight and the first knockdown I scored was exactly how we anticipated it. Now I'm excited to face Pungluang for the championship,? Tapales said.
Salud said he will start negotiations immediately with Pungluang's handlers for the title fight. ?I'd like it to be held in the Philippines. But we'll see what happens. We are also willing to go to Thailand to face the champion in his hometown,? Salud said.
Marlon Tapales (L) of the Philippines connects with a right to score a knockdown against Shohei Omori of Japan during their world title eliminator fight in Kyoto, Japan Wednesday.
Referee Lou Moret (2nd from left) and WBO supervisor Leon Panoncillo Jr (R) raise the hands of Marlon Tapales after Tapales knocked out Japanese contender Shohei Omori in Kyoto Wednesday. Also in photo is Tapales's manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud (L).
Tapales, 23, who hails from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, thus made a successful comeback after his majority decision loss to David Sanchez of Mexico on Feb. 23, 2013, racking up seven straight victories including tonight's impressive win.
Tapales has now improved his record to 28 wins, 2 losses with 11 wins inside the distance while Omori suffered his first defeat and dropped to 15-1-0, 10 KOs.
Meanwhile, super flyweight journeyman Fernando Ocon (13-10-1, 5KO) whose last fight was against Aston Palicte last Aug. 14, had a smashing debut as a trainer as he guided Tapales to his most important victory to date.
The Tapales-Omori title fight eliminator was supervised by WBO Vice-President for Asia-Pacific Leon Panoncillo Jr. The judges were Lisa Giampa, Chris Flores and Bill Lerch.
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