TAPALES NOW RANKED NO. 3 BY WBO IN SUPER BANTAM
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 05 May 2017
CEBU ? Former WBO world bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales, who was stripped of his title after failing to make weight in his title defense against Shohei Omori of Japan last April 23 and has decided to move up in weight, is now ranked 3rd by the WBO in the super bantamweight division, behind No. 1 Cesar Juarez of Mexico and No. 2 Nonito Donaire Jr., also of the Philippines.
The WBO world super bantamweight champion is Jesse Magdaleno of Las Vegas who recently successfully defended his title over Adeilson Dos Santos on April 22 in California but is bound to face Cesar Juarez next as his mandatory challenger.
With Donaire rumored to be moving up to featherweight, that leaves Tapales in a position to become the No. 1 contender of the Magdaleno-Juarez winner.
?If Magdaleno beats Juarez, I'll talk to [Top Rank boss Bob] Arum of the possibility of pitting Tapales against Magdaleno,? Tapales's manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud informed Philboxing.
If Juarez beats Magdaleno however, that is the scenario that Team Tapales desired most since Marlon was hoping to meet Juarez in one of his future fights.
Meanwhile, three other Filipinos are also rated in the Top 15 of the super bantamweight division by the WBO. Next to Tapales is Genesis Servania, now based in Japan, at No. 4 and Juan Miguel Elorde, the Asia-Pacific super bantamweight champion, at No. 5. At No. 12 is Jack Tepora, the WBO Oriental champion.
Over at the stellar featherweight division, rising star Mark 'Magnifico' Magsayo, the WBO International champion who stopped his Tanzanian opponent Issa Nampepeche in the first round last Saturday in Cebu, is now ranked No. 4 by the WBO, inching closer to Oscar Valdez's crown.
Jason 'El Nino' Pagara remains ranked at No. 1 in the junior welterweight division.
In the junior flyweight, Jonathan Taconing and Jesse Espinas have maintained their No. 3 and No. 5 rankings respectively.
Arthur Villanueva, who was previously ranked No. 1 at bantamweight, dropped completely off the rankings after his lopsided loss to the now WBO world bantamweight champion Zolani Tete of South Africa last April 22 in the UK.
Marlon Tapales (L) throws a left at Shohei Omori during their WBO bantamweight battle in Osaka, Japan last April 23.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Santisima Wins But Vicelles Loses; Suarez-Navarrete Rematch Hangs in the Balance?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Locked & loaded for Lewis Crocker rematch, Paddy Donovan has prepared to be crowned the new IBF Welterweight World Champion
Mon, 08 Sep 2025Robby Gonzales Advances to Round of 16 with Win Over Cuba
Mon, 08 Sep 2025James Padua rules Marikina rapid chess championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Remembering Gabriel ‘Flash’ Elorde: A Pilgrimage of Gratitude
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Hometown Triumph: Oscar Valdez Defeats Ricky Medina by Decision
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Team USA Captures Two Wins on Day Three of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Sun, 07 Sep 2025McCormack Stops Parra in 9
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Monika Singh Makes History as India's Newest Youth World Champion
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Who is Nico Walsh?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 07 Sep 2025Kelvin Watts Highlights Day Two of World Boxing Championships for Team USA
Sun, 07 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina
Sat, 06 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LOS MOCHIS: Eduardo Nuñez - 130 Lbs., Christopher Diaz - 129.6 Lbs.
Sat, 06 Sep 2025“THE HOMECOMING” OFFICIAL WEIGHTS
Sat, 06 Sep 2025‘SUGAR’ NUNEZ VS. ‘PITUFO’ DIAZ – PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Sat, 06 Sep 2025