TAPALES TO FACE IWASA FOR IBF INTERIM BELT DEC 7 IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 25 Oct 2019
In a battle of former world champions, Marlon Tapales of the Philippines will face Ryosuke Iwasa of Japan for the IBF Interim world super bantamweight title on Dec. 7 in New York on the undercard of the Jermall Charlo vs Dennis Hogan WBC world middleweight championship at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn promoted by Premier Boxing Champions to be broadcast live on Showtime.
Tapales (33-2-0, 16KOs) wrested the WBO bantamweight belt from Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand in 2016 but lost it at the scales in his first defense against Shohei Omori of Japan the following year. Moving up to the super bantamweight division, Tapales has since racked up three victories, all by stoppage, to get back into the top of the rankings, No. 1 by the WBO and No. 3 by the IBF.
Iwasa (26-3-0, 16KOs) captured the IBF super bantam belt in 2017, defended it once, but lost it to TJ Doheny of Australia on Aug. 16, 2018. He defeated Mexican Cesar Juarez Feb. 16 this year to get installed as the IBF No. 1 contender.
WBA super bantam champion Daniel Roman of Los Angeles, California annexed the IBF belt when he defeated Doheny last April in a unification fight. Tapales and Iwasa are fighting to become Roman's mandatory challenger.
Tapales' manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud informed Philboxing that his ward is now deep in training in Las Vegas under the tutelage of former world champion Rodel Mayol.
"Marlon is training good in Las Vegas," Salud said. "He's been sparring with quality boxers. I was informed that he beat up Top Rank star [Shakur] Stevenson in sparring." Stevenson, a silver medalist in the 2016 Rio Olympics, will be fighting this weekend against Joet Gonzalez for the vacant WBO world featherweight title in Reno, Nevada.
Salud also informed that the Tapales-Iwasa fight was arranged by boxing connoisseur Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MAGSAYO, 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 2025Weights from Washington, PA
Sat, 19 Jul 2025Pacquiao and Barrios Make Weight: Final Hurdle Cleared for Blockbuster Saturday Night
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 19 Jul 2025Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
Sat, 19 Jul 2025Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 19 Jul 2025LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
Sat, 19 Jul 2025“Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 18 Jul 2025