TAPALES, VILLANUEVA ON COLLISION COURSE
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Sep 2016
LOS ANGELES ? Marlon Tapales and Arthur Villanueva, both from the Philippines, if both keep on winning, will most likely face each other in a not so distant future, marking the first time since Pancho Villa defended his title against fellow Filipino Clever Sencio in 1925, that two Filipinos will duke it out for a world championship belt.
Tapales (29-2-0, 12KOs) is the WBO world bantamweight champion while Villanueva (30-1-0, 16KOs) who currently holds the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight belt, is Tapales's No. 1 contender.
Tapales won the title by unseating Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand last July 27 and was scheduled to face unbeaten Takuma Inoue of Japan at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on Dec. 30. Villanueva, meanwhile, stopped Juan Jimenez in the second round Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California in a scintillating performance.
Tapales, if he wins against Inoue on December 30, may opt for another voluntary defense of his title not later than May 27, 2017 after which time, nine months to the day he won his belt, Villanueva will become his mandatory challenger, according to the WBO rules.
?If that happens, we will have no choice but fight him [Tapales],? Villanueva's promoter Michael Aldeguer told Philboxing earlier. ?We are looking at the possibility of having Arthur fight for a title in another organization but if a [WBO] mandatory fight will happen against Tapales, we will be forced to do it. It's happening anyway in boxing. Look at the Barrera-Morales wars. It became classics.
When reached out for comment, Tapales's manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud welcomes the development. ?It happens in Mexico, in Japan, everywhere. So it's good if it also happens in the Philippines. But they [ALA Promotions] have to promote the fight. And they should give us a good offer,? Salud said.
It is not unusual for the ALA Gym boxers and the RWS Gym boxers, who are both based in Cebu, the acknowledged hotbed of boxing in the Philippines, to fight each other, especially when they're just coming up. The last high profile fight between the two gyms was the OPBF title fight between Athur Villanueva against then rising Marco Demecillo on April 20, 2013 in Davao City which Villanueva won by unanimous decision.
If the Tapales-Villanueva world championship bout pushes thru, if will take several notches up the rivalry between the two gyms.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Melvin’s target is Collazo
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 17 Apr 2025Piala fights Choki in WBC Grand Prix
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Apr 2025There will be NO DRAWS at the World Boxing Council Grand Prix in Riyadh
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Apr 2025WBC Boxing Grand Prix set April 17-20
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Apr 2025ROY JONES JR BOXING PRESENTS “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE GILLESPIE” DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, KY SATURDAY, APRIL 19
Thu, 17 Apr 2025Day One of the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Thu, 17 Apr 2025LA28 Celebrates Updated Olympic Venue Plan Showcasing the Best of Los Angeles on the World Stage
Thu, 17 Apr 2025Memo in Navarrete’s camp
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 16 Apr 2025Dubs Hold Off Grizzlies, 121-116 to Clinch #7 Playoff Spot in the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 16 Apr 2025PH Teen Arca Upsets Super GM Gustafsson
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 16 Apr 2025SMITH: I'LL PROVE WHY I'M MANDATORY FOR THE WBC WORLD TITLE
Wed, 16 Apr 2025UNDEFEATED STANFORD SENIOR DANTE “THE INFERNO” KIRKMAN RETURNS MAY 24 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Wed, 16 Apr 2025The Past Week in Action 14 April 2025: Ennis Retires Stanionis in 6, Unifies IBF/WBA Welter Titles; Spencer Defeats Suarez; Pro Boxing Returns in Cuba; Astrolabio, Nietes Win in Manila
By Eric Armit, Tue, 15 Apr 2025What Happened to the Goodman Fight? Inoue on Replacement, Mismatch Spree
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 15 Apr 2025Ambuang wins 1799 Below FIDE Tournament in Tangub City
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 15 Apr 2025