Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 17 Jul 2025
FROM former adversaries to new allies.
This is what Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales become as one of the sparring partners of undisputed world super bantamweight champion Naoya "Monster" Inoue of Japan as he defends his three crowns against Murodion “MJ” Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan on September 14 at the IG Arena in Nagoya.
The 33-year-old Tapales [40-4-0, 21KOs], a former IBF World bantamweight champion, will be joined by the undefeated Criztian Pitt “Golden Boy” Laurente [14-0-0, 9KOs] of General Santos City on July 17 for Japan.
“Both Tapales and Laurente are southpaws just like Akhmadaliev,” said manager JC Manangquil of Sanman Boxing.
Inoue, 32 [30-0-0, 27KOs], who knocked out Tapales in the 10th round in December 2023, is an orthodox.
Tapales, who is from Lanao del Norte, retired Jon Joh Jet of Indonesia in the 3rd round to win the WBC International Silver super bantamweight title last April 27 in General Santos City.
The 25-year-old Laurente, on the other hand, scored a 2nd round knockout against Alvin Lagumbay last April 27 in Gensan.
He recently sparred against Tapales at the Sanman Boxing Gym in Gensan.
Both of them are expected to learn something from Inoue, who holds the IBF, WBC and WBO World super bantamweight titles.
PARTNERS. Marlon Tapales [left] and Pitt Laurete pose after sparring.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Lito delos Reyes.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Ju-jitsu in Thailand SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Mapua, IIEE Singapore and IM Concio wins the 7th IIEE ANC Cup co-awarded by GM Torre
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pontinos to see action in PH Jetski in SEA Games
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Pitbull vs. Roach Jr & Co-Headliner Foster vs. Fulton Make for Solid PPV
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 06 Dec 2025Weights from Philadelphia
Sat, 06 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED WITH MASOUD AND McGRAIL SET TO BATTLE
Sat, 06 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez, Jason Moloney Make Weight for WBC Australasia Bantamweight Battle in Australia
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 5: 1928 OLYMPICS AT AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025MONTE-CARLO SHOWDOWN VI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Class of 2026 Announced in Canastota
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 05 Dec 2025WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
Fri, 05 Dec 2025Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 05 Dec 2025Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 04 Dec 2025