CAN TAPALES TOPPLE PUNGLUANG?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Jul 2016
Filipino challenger Marlon Tapales of the RWS Gym of Cebu will try to win a world title on the road this July 27 against the Thai champion Pungluang Sor Singyu. This will be the first shot at a world crown for the 24 year old Tapales (28-2,11KO?s), who is former Philippine champion at 108lbs and a former WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion.
The name Pungluang Sor Singyu carries a bit of notoriety here in the Philippines, especially for those who witnessed his world title victory at the Mall of Asia Arena four years ago.
Most fans and pundits expected AJ Banal?s coronation as the WBO world bantamweight champion. Pungluang?s long list of Filipino victims were not the cream of Philippine boxing. They were journeymen and fringe contenders.
But the Thai?s chin and heart propelled him to victory and Banal was a bleeding fallen fighter in the ninth round.
Pungluang would falter in his first defense in Namibia to Paulus Ambunda and in 2014, lose in his attempt to win back the WBO crown when he got knocked out by Tomoki Kameda of Japan.
But the 26 year old Pungluang (52W-3L,35KO?s) worked himself back to title contention and captured the vacant WBO bantamweight crown last year by stopping Japanese Ryo Akaho in two rounds in Ratchaburi, Thailand. In his first defense last February, Pungluang beat Filipino Jetro Pabustan by technical decision also in Thailand.
Pungluang will defend against Tapales in the scenic historic Thai city of Ayutthaya.
The southpaw Tapales, who hails from Lanao del Norte, has not exactly been protected inside the confines of home. He has fought overseas five times, including a majority decision loss to David Sanchez in Mexico in 2013. He won once in Las Vegas and thrice in Japan, including his biggest career win so far ? a second round TKO victory over Shohei Omori last December to earn the right to challenge Pungluang.
Veteran trainer Brix Flores told this writer that Tapales is in excellent shape and was close to the division limit when they arrived in Thailand. Flores will be assisting Tapales? new chief trainer Fernando Ocon, who in his training debut, orchestrated the resounding win against Omori.
But Tapales ? who turned pro in 2008 ? has not been exactly consistent in his performance as a boxer. There were moments early in his career when he showed flashes of being the next Gerry Pe?alosa. His counterpunching was exquisite and he showed an uncanny ability to slip punches.
But there have been fights where Tapales looked average. Which now begs the question ? Will we see the best of Marlon Tapales on fight night?
Photo: Marlon Tapales (C) with trainer Fernando Ocon and manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud during their arrival in Thailand Sunday.
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