Tapales, Tabanao relit fire of RWS Stable
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 29 Jul 2016
Take a quick visit at the RWS Gym of Cebuano impresario Rex "Wakee" Salud just beside his home in Barangay Prunta Princesa, Cebu City and you will see a few boxers diligently training sans fanfare and away from the spotlight the elite and more popular fighters usually enjoy.
Since it last produced a world champion in Malcolm "Eagle Eye" Tu?acao nearly two decades ago, the modest gym was in the headlines no more and has been in silent mode except for one occasion when ring superstar now Senator of the Philippines Manny Pacquiao trained in there for his rematch with Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera in 2008.
Nothing great nor significant has been heard of Salud's sweat shop from that moment on. Though some of his wards regularly ply their trades in the ring, thanks to a collaboration with Thai boxing patron Naris Singwangcha, fans apparently paid less attention to the RWS boxers while others may not even know them at all.
That setting may drastically change with the arrival of Neil John Tabanao (9-1, 6KOs) and Marlon Tapales, who descended out of nowhere to become harbingers of good omen that brought Salud's storied stable back to the limelight.
The 22-year-old Tabanao from Panabo City, Davao del Norte pulled off a smashing third-round knockout of Australian prospect Ibrahim Balla to win the WBO Oriental featherweight title last June 11 at the Bendigo Stadium in Victoria, Australia.
Six weeks later, the 24-year-old Tapales (29-2, 12KOs) of Lala, Lanao del Norte stormed into worldwide fame when he courageously survived two knockdowns in the fifth round to batter two-time world champion Pungluang Sor Singhyu of Thailand into submission in the 11th round and snatch the WBO bantamweight crown just last Wednesday at the ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya.
Having two titlists at the same time coupled with a bunch of virtually unknown yet promising fighters somehow heralds a new era for Salud.
And without doubt, the back-to-back conquests of Tapales and Tabanao even on enemy lines has restored the once lofty reputation of RWS Stable as a respectable breeding ground of world boxing champions.---EBV
Newly minted world champion Marlon Tapales (C) is being welcomed by supporters up his arrival in Cebu Thursday.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
McTavish a proud Filipino
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 20 Jul 2025GM Antonio rules Taiwan blitz chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 20 Jul 2025History Slips From Pacquiao's Hands as Barrios Fight Ends in Majority Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025Fundora Dominates Tszyu: "Towering Inferno" Retains Title in Strategic Masterclass
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025PITBULL CRUZ DOMINATES OMAR SALCEDO TO WIN WBC 140 LB INTERIM TITLE
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025Figueroa Claims Hard-Fought Decision in Grueling War Against Gonzalez
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025MAGSAYO, MARCIAL REGISTER WINS IN LAS VEGAS
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jul 2025Pacquiao vs Barrios: Factors of consequence
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 20 Jul 2025How to Watch Pacquiao vs Barrios in the Philippines
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 20 Jul 2025Final Hours Tick Down: Pacquiao and Barrios Ready for Destiny in Las Vegas
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 19 Jul 2025Philippines Sweeps Kyrgyzstan, Secures Return to Davis Cup Group III
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Jul 2025Blu Girls Bounce Back, Blank Hong Kong 12–0 in Four Innings
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Jul 2025Pacquiao vs. Barrios: Weigh-in Results and Fight Analysis
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 19 Jul 2025Panamanian Star Nataly Delgado wins WBA super flyweight champinship
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 19 Jul 2025Usyk vs Dubois Rematch Marred by Oversaturated Pay-Per-View Market
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 19 Jul 2025