Talape guns for OPBF title vs Sakmuangklaeng
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 25 May 2008
Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) No. 1 ranked and RP superbantamweight king Jun Talape will fight for OPBF crown currently worn by Wethya Sakmuangklaeng of Thailand in Bangkok tentatively in July, Talape?s manager Jay R. San Pedro announced.
?Ito na ang pagkakataon ni Jun na maging kampeon sa OPBF (This is now Jun?s chance to win the OPBF title),? said San Pedro who owns the modern Tiger City boxing gym in Mandaluyong City.
In his recent fight in April 6, the 22-year-old Talape (17-5, 7 KO) drew with Yuya Miyagi in a 10-round non-title tiff in Shizuoka, Japan.
Despite the draw, Talape, a southpaw, vaulted to No. 1 spot in the OPBF owing to his back-to-back unanimous decisions wins over Jake Verano and Roel Laguna in two defenses of his national crown before holding Miyagi to a controversial draw.
?We believed we won that fight, but as what kuya (Rex) Wakee (Salud) said, if your boxer can?t stop his Japanese opponent, be content if his fight will end in a draw,? said San Pedro who accompanied his ward to Japan.
Sakmuangklaeng (74-4, 44 KO) will be making his sixth defense of the crown he won by TKO in the third round over Masakazu Sugawara in Nagoya, Japan on June 26, 2005.
The 31-year-old former Muai Thai sensation from Krasang, Buriram, Thailand defended the 122 lbs title by unanimous decision over Kyohei Tamakoshi in Kobe, Japan in his last title defense on June 3, 2007.
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