TWO EX PACQUIAO SPARRING PARTNERS IN BIG FIGHTS ON SATURDAY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 03 Dec 2013
Tapia.
Two former sparring partners of ?Fighter of the Decade? Manny Pacquiao have tough fights this coming weekend against top class opponents.
Undefeated light middleweight Glen ?Jersey Boy? Tapia who has a record of 20-0 with 12 knockouts battles southpaw James ?Mandingo Warrior? Kirkland who boasts of only one loss against 31 wins with 27 knockouts.
Tapia?s biggest win was over previously unbeaten Abraham ?Abie? Han who was cut on the left side of the head due to an accidental head-butt in round four and was dropped in round seven and retired in round eight.
In his last fight Tapia scored a 5th round TKO over Elco Garcia on September 28, 2013.
Kirkland won the Continental Americas light middleweight title with a 6th round TKO over rugged Alfredo Angulo before retaining the title when Carlos Molina was disqualified in the 10th round on March 24, 2012.
Kirkland was dropped in the first round and came back to knock Angulo down late in the same round and after demonstrating his boxing skills through the next few rounds, Kirkland hammered Angulo to win by a sixth round stoppage.
Shawn ?Showtime? Porter another former Pacquiao sparring partner, also faces a tough challenge against Devon ?Alexander the Great? Alexander who has a record of 25-1 with 14 knockouts.
Porter is undefeated with 22 wins, one draw with 14 wins coming by way of knockouts. In a rematch with Julio Diaz last September 12, Porter won the vacant IBF North American welterweight title via a ten round unanimous decision 12 after a split draw on December 15 last year.
Alexander whose only defeat was at the hands of Timothy ?Desert Storm? Bradley when he dropped a ten round technical decision on January 29, 2011 won the IBF title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Randall Bailey on October 20, 2012 and also scored big wins over rugged Lucas Matthysse and Marcus Maidana to boost his stock.
Alexander is coming off a win over Lee Purdy who failed to make the weight and retired in the 7th round of their showdown last May 18.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025OLYMPIC MEDALIST YUBERJEN MARTINEZ INKS WITH ALL STAR BOXING
Wed, 05 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 November 2025: Mayer Outpoints Spencer to Unify 154 Belts; Buatsi's Controversial Win Over Parker; Pero Outpoints Thompson; Thrilla in Manila at 50 Results
By Eric Armit, Tue, 04 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 1)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 04 Nov 2025MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES HISTORIC ‘LIVE FROM GHANA’ EVENT FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 AS CRAIG RICHARDS AND DAN AZEEZ COLLIDE IN ACCRA – LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN
Tue, 04 Nov 2025Bryce Mills Defeats James Bernadin By Unanimous Decision
Mon, 03 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Wembanyama Struggles as Suns Give Spurs First Loss 130-118
By Reylan Loberternos, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Oklahoma City Thunder the only undefeated NBA Team
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 03 Nov 2025RP Blu Boys Close Out Strong with Unbeaten Record in Japan Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Pero Outlasts Thompson in Orlando, Secures Unanimous Decision Victory
Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay Crowned Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Champion
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay reaches Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Finals
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 02 Nov 2025Pistons defeated Mavericks in NBA Game 34 in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 02 Nov 2025