TWO FORMER PACQUIAO SPARRING PARTNERS IN BIG FIGHTS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Oct 2013
Tapia.
Two former sparring partners of ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao are featured in big fights in November and December following the WBO light welterweight title shot of former Russian sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov who faces WBO light welterweight champion Mike ?Mile High? Alvarado in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, Manila Time.
Undefeated 25 year old Shawn ?Showtime? Porter who has a record of 22-0-1 with 14 knockouts, battles 26 year old IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander ?The Great? who has only one setback for a record of 25-1 with 14 knockouts at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas on November 30.
Meantime unbeaten Glen ?Jersey Boy? Tapia takes on James Kirkland in Atlantic City on December 7.
Boxingscene.com reported that the 23 year old Tapia who has a record of 20-0 with 12 knockouts believes that the fight against Kirkland is a step up in his career and he expects Kirkland to be as aggressive as always despite an eighteen month layoff.
Porter is coming off a ten round unanimous decision over former champion Julio Diaz in a rematch last September 12 after they fought to a split draw also over ten rounds on December 15, 2012.
Alexander who dropped a somewhat controversial tenth round technical decision to Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley in a WBC/WBO light welterweight title fight on January 29, 2011 won his last fight when Lee Purdy?s corner stopped the fight after the 7th round last May 18.
The 23-year-old Tapia said that he is very pleased to be taking the next progression in his career. Even with an 18 month layoff, Tapia expects Kirkland to be as aggressive as he always has been throughout his career.
Tapia told boxingscene.com he is excited and "There's nothing else to say. I can't wait to get in the ring. I will see in the first round (how aggressive he is). He comes out to fight and I love that. I come to fight too. I've never seen him in a fight where he doesn't come out to fight. I'll be ready. I can't give my plan away. I do my talking with these (fists)."
Tapia?s biggest win was against previously undefeated Abraham Han who retired in the 8th round after he was cut on the left side of his head in round four and was dropped in round seven.
In his last fight Tapia scored a 5th round TKO over Elco Garcia last September 26.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 11 Sep 2025“Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
Thu, 11 Sep 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
By Nick Giongco, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
Wed, 10 Sep 2025