TAPALES ARRIVES IN M?XICO, HIS TRAINER ABLACA PROMISES VICTORY
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Feb 2013
Promising Filipino bantamweight Marlon Tapales (20-1-0, 7 KOs) of Barangay Maranding in Lala, Lanao del Norte, has arrived in Hermosillo, M?xico, ahead of his scheduled 12-round battle against hard-punching Sonorense David "Tornado" S?nchez (21-2-2, 16 KOs) for the vacant WBC Silver Bantamweight title at the Sonora State Gym in Hermosillo, M?xico this Saturday, Feb. 23 (Sunday, Feb. 24 in Manila).
The 20-year-old Filipino Tapales - who three years ago captured the Filipino GAB Jr. Flyweight title - has scored win after win in his last twelve outings, including a close majority decision victory over unheralded Mexican-American Alejandro Solorio (4-6, 3 KOs) at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas in May 2011.
The Filipino's last rumble was a round 2 knockout win last October in Manila, while Sanchez comes from a round 5 triumph last September in his native Sonora.
With 50-50 chance of claiming the biggest triumph in his fighting career, Tapales is accompanied in M?xico by experienced Cebuano trainer Juanito Ablaca, who assured the local media that his pupil has come to Mexico to earn the coveted green-and-golden WBC "Silver" bantamweight title and bring it to the Philippines.
The WBC Bantamweight "Regular" World title belt is on the waist of undefeated 30-year-old southpaw Shinsuke Yamanaka (17-0-2, 12 KOs) of Tokyo, Japan since November 2011.
Yamanaka is due to defend his world title against veteran Cebuano lefty Malcolm "Eagle Eye" Tu?acao (32-2-3, 20 KOs) on April 8 in Tokyo.
The S?nchez vs Tapales fight is important as the victorious might be in line to face the winner in the "lefty vs lefty" Yamanaka-Tu?acao rumble.
CO-MAIN EVENT: SEGURA VS SALADO
The co-main event will feature the return of former world champion Giovani Segura (28-2-1, 24 KO's) in a 10-round non-title bout against 33-year-old fellow Mexican Omar Salado (23-5-2, 14 KO's) of Tijuana.
The bout will be Segura's return to action after a 14-month lay off after his devastating capitulation to the fists of the reigning WBO flyweight world champion Brian Viloria at the Y?ares Sports Arena in Manila, Philippines.
Will the 30-year-old 2-time Jr. Flyweight world champion Giovani Segura - born in the Southwestern Mexican State of Guerrero - still has the will and the winning state of mind required to be the fearsome world champion he once was?
The interesting card this Saturday (Feb 23) in Hermosillo, Mexico is a production of Promociones Zanfer in association with Promoson for the benefit of the DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia - the Mexican public institution in charge of social welfare) of Hermosillo.
Fights begin at 5:30pm.
Tickets are on sale at Discos y Novedades. Also, at the box office of the Gimnasio del Estado, and online on www.superboletos.com.
Prices are 100, 200 and 300 Mexican Pesos ($8, $16 and $24 US Dollars).
The card will be broadcast LIVE on "La Casa del Boxeo" TV Azteca Channel 7.
Photo: Marlon Tapales (R) and trainer Juanito Ablaca arrive in Mexico Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) ahead of Tapales's showdown with Sonora's David Sanchez this Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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