Tapales’ Taste of Victory— A World Champion Cools Off
By Katareena Carysse Roska
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Apr 2023
Tapales (R) poses with the author.
Spotted. Boxing World Champ reaping the fruits of his labor with a free sesh at a vitamin drip lab.
The scene: a classic, Californian sunny day at a wellness center in Sherman Oaks.
The star? The newly crowned Marlon Tapales.
Cool, calm, and overwhelmingly humble—Tapales dropped by to test out the cryotherapy at pH Drip Labs, owned by fellow Filipino Dr. Pauline Jose.
Pinoy solidarity runs deep. After Tapales’ win, Dr. Jose pledged to sponsor any supplemental treatments for him and the rest of the Manny Pacquiao Promotions and the Sanman team. Nothing like the camaraderie of three stars and a sun.
Tapales poses with pH Drip Labs staff.
But Tapales walks with the humility of the Son of God, presenting himself more like a shy altar boy cleaning up after mass.
Still, his win is monumental. Surmounting a dark era of the Filipino boxing community, Tapales rose to the top, proudly carrying with him the hopes of our people. A phoenix from the ashes, a resurrection of our dreams.
Tapales isn’t new to the game—he’s always been an underdog.
Which is probably why when he walked in, I barely even noticed.
Soft spoken, he lacked the cockiness of a victor. But he was full of heart.
As Dr. Jose toured him around the center, his crew walked with the swagger (or perhaps without) of any other customer, expecting nothing in return.
“Maybe next time.” Tapales said in a modest mumble, the sharp chill of the cryo chamber surprising him like an undercut.
Nicknamed “The Nightmare”, Tapales’ demeanor was more of a daydream. But we can’t let his modesty lull us into complacency—-Tapales is out for blood.
L-R: Philboxing's Nick Roska, Trainer Ernel Fontanilla, Katareena Roska, Tapales and Sanman's JC Manangquil.
As they were getting ready to return to the rest of Tapales’ crowded schedule, I couldn’t help but notice the incandescent glow of his belts in the sun.
“You wanna hold them?”, it sparked a fuse in his eyes.
And before I could even answer, he draped the weight of his prizes across my shoulders and snapped a pic with me. Classy move.
I could overhear his team arguing in the sweet, melodious and familiar sound of my native tongue. “Tabuni na ug hoodie ang belt kay magaras!”
They carefully wrapped the belts back in nothing more than a simple hoodie, symbolically mirroring the unassuming and self-effacing air of one Marlon Tapales.
As for my other favorite fighter Naoya Inoue? The two might meet soon if the stars align.
But Tapales has already made his intentions clear in the locker room, post interview:
“Inoue, you’re next.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Katareena Carysse Roska.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights from Tokyo: Naoya Inoue - 121.75 lbs, Luis Nery - 121 lbs
Sun, 05 May 2024Canelo Alvarez Drops, Decisions Jaime Munguia to Retain Undisputed Super Middleweight Title
By Ralph Rimpell, Sun, 05 May 2024Minnesota T-wolves Are For Real, Beat Denver Nuggets in Game 1
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 05 May 2024Mario Barrios Outpoints Fabian Maidana
By Ralph Rimpell, Sun, 05 May 2024Brandon Figueroa Stops Jessie Magdaleno with a Body Shot in 9th Round
By Ralph Rimpell, Sun, 05 May 2024Eimantas Stanionis Remains Undefeated by Outpointing Gabriel Maestre
By Ralph Rimpell, Sun, 05 May 2024Canelo vs Munguia Off TV Results in Las Vegas
By Ralph Rimpell, Sun, 05 May 2024Japan One Title From Bantamweight Sweep
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 05 May 2024‘STAR BOY’ BOSTAN HAS MORE THAN A FEELING HE’LL HEADLINE AT ROTHERHAM
Sun, 05 May 2024Pontinos dominate JSAP Nat’l Season
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 05 May 2024Fighting for More Than Scraps
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 04 May 2024Press Conference Notes: Naoya Inoue & Luis Nery Set for UNDISPUTED Tokyo Dome Duel
Sat, 04 May 2024Dallas Ditches LA Clippers, To Meet OKC; Pattern Stays as Magic Repel Cavaliers
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sat, 04 May 2024Canelo vs. Munguia: Mexican Standoff on Saturday
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 04 May 2024CANELO ALVAREZ VS. JAIME MUNGIA TALE OF THE TAPE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Sat, 04 May 2024