TAPALES WORKING DOUBLY HARD AHEAD OF OMORI REMATCH
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 06 Mar 2017
CEBU CITY ? Not taking his Japanese foe for granted whom he beat by 2nd round knockout on Dec. 16, 2015 to earn his world title shot, WBO bantamweight world champion Marlon Tapales said he is working doubly hard in preparation for his rematch with Shohei Omori which also serve as Tapales' first title defense scheduled on April 23 at Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan.
?I'm sure that Omori is preparing himself very well for this fight,? Tapales told Philboxing after taking on three different sparring partners for eight rounds of sparring Saturday afternoon at the RWS Gym here. ?So I'll have to prepare well myself, anticipating anything new that my opponent will bring into the ring.?
After his dramatic 11th round knockout victory over former world champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand on July 27, 2016, Tapales (29-2-0, 12KOs) was scheduled to defend his title against Takuma Inoue last December 30 but the fight fight was canceled when Inoue fractured his hand during training.
Omori (18-1-0, 13KOsa) meanwhile has fought three times after the Tapales loss winning all by knockout the last one was against 2-time Filipino world title challenger Rocky Fuentes last Dec. 31 in Kyoto. Fuentes replaced world champion Lee Haskins of Britain who was originally set to defend his IBF world bantamweight title against Omori but withdrew after injuring his leg in training.
Omori hopes to avenge his only career loss in a rematch against Tapales. ?Win or loss I want to make sure I have no regrets,? Omori said quoted by Japan Times. ?It was disappointing to lose last time and I want to show Tapales I have improved.?
Tapales said he had a short break after the cancellation of his fight against Inoue but went right back into training after the Omori rematch was finalized last February. Tapales has just returned from a 2-week sparring session with Hong Kong star Rex Tso who will face Japanese Hirofumi Mukai this Saturday in Hong Kong.
Drenched in sweat, WBO world champion Marlon Tapales poses during training at the RWS Gym in Cebu Saturday.
With seven weeks left before the April 23 date, Tapales said he's now entering the hard part of his training running in the morning and working out for about three hours in the afternoon. ?Our goal is to improve my stamina. We'll be making 10 and 12 round sparring sessions in the next two weeks,? Tapales said who added, ?I want to challenge myself how far I can go during training.?
For the difficult an punishing days ahead, Tapales has locked himself up in camp at the Wakee Salud Gym together with his trainer Fernando Ocon. Also assisting in his training regimen is veteran trainer Brix Flores who told PhilBoxing that Tapales's skill level right now is at the very top of the heap.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SPORTS SHORTS 287: RYAN GARCIA FACES RUKIYA ANPO ON NEW YEAR'S EVE BUT NO GO SIGNAL FROM GOLDEN BOY YET
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 29 Nov 2024Gaballo to fight again on Dec. 18 in Bula
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Nov 202432nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships: Team Philippines wraps up successful campaign with 2 golds and 1 bronze medal
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 29 Nov 2024EDWARDS VS. YAFAI + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 29 Nov 2024Some boxers have no golds at stake
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Nov 2024YAFAI: I'VE GOT MORE CHANCE OF KNOCKING HIM OUT
Fri, 29 Nov 2024DC jiu jitsu, lawn tennis bags 8 medals in BP
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 29 Nov 2024Three Pinoy Fighters in Crucial Bouts This December
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 28 Nov 2024Camp Notes: Oscar Valdez & Emanuel Navarrete Prepared for Phoenix Firefight on December 7 LIVE on ESPN
Thu, 28 Nov 2024Mabuhay at Salamat: Long Live and Thanks
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 28 Nov 2024TODAY: Rolly Fogoum vs Obinna Mathew for WBF Cruise World Title; Toshihiko Era vs Chonlahee for ABF Belt in Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 28 Nov 2024The Final Word: Legendary Rematches of Mexican Boxing Premieres Ahead of Emanuel Navarrete-Oscar Valdez II
Thu, 28 Nov 2024Swedish heavyweight Genti Morina Set for Professional Debut in Denmark
Thu, 28 Nov 2024SPORTS SHORTS 286: CHARLY SUAREZ, MARK MAGSAYO, JOHN RIEL CASIMERO, AND CARL JAMMIS MARTIN IN WBO RANKINGS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 27 Nov 2024Pinoy Fighter Blazen Rocili Remains Unbeaten with Dominant Victory in San Antonio, TX
Wed, 27 Nov 2024