Philippines, 20 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


MARLON TAPALES KNOCKS OUT WBO BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION PUNGLUANG IN THE 11TH ROUND IN AN EXPLOSIVE TITLE SHOWDOWN


PhilBoxing.com




Mandatory challenger Marlon "The Nightmare" Tapales scored a sensational 11th round knockout of WBO bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu to give the Philippines its fourth world title in an explosive showdown in the historic city of Ayutthaya some 85 kilometers north of Bangkok.

The other champions are WBO light flyweight Donnie Nietes, the longest-reigning Filipino world champion, IBF light flyweight champion Johnreil Casimero and WBO super bantamweight anfd five division woerld champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire.

WBO official fight supervisor Leon Panoncillo who had earlier predicted a good fight, in a conversation with The Standard, said "it was one of the best fights I've seen in Thailand."

Panoncillo told The Standard that Pungluang dropped Tapales twice in the 5th round but Tapales rose from the canvas and came back to drop Pungluang in the very next round and as the Thai champion faded in going for a knockout, Tapales capitalized on this and went after Pungluang, the two-time world champion who first won the vacant title with a 9th round knockout of AJ "Bazooka" Banal at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Panoncillo told us "it was a very exciting and very competitive fight."

He said Tapales won "impressively" and came back after he saw Pungluang tiring out and from then on it was all Tapales before he knocked out the Thai champion at 37 seconds into the 11th round.

Panoncillo said it was a close fight and at the time of the stoppage judge Lisa Giampa had Tapales ahead 94-93, Gerardo Martinez had it 95-94 for Tapales while the third judge had it 96-91.

The small Filipino delegation led by well-known promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud erupted in a celebration that silenced the usually noisy Thai fans in a hot and humid afternoon.

Tapales who had to shed off one pound before the official weigh-in on Tuesday connected with some solid combinations although he seemed tense as a smirking, highly confident Pungluang connected with his own counter-punches.

At the start of the 6th round Tapales who had been forced to travel for hours to get to the venue and earlier at the official press conference appeared to have regained his strength and nailed Pungluang with a right hook to the head that dropped the champion and turned the tide of the close and explosive fight.

Tapales who becomes the third world champion nurtured by an elated "Wakee" Salud, the others being the brothers Gerry and Dodie Boy Penalosa, began to stalk Pungluang who went on the defensive even as Marlon gained in confidence.

With the win Tapales improved his record to 29-2-0, with 12 knockouts while Pungluang Sor Sinhyu dropped to 52-4-0, 35KO.

Trainers Fernando Ocon and Brix Flores who had both predicted that Tapales who had trained hard would win were elated even as Flores wh o claimed Tapales was the best boxer in the country today was vindicated.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • IIEE to defend Billiard crown in PTC World 2026, World Champ Magpantay is PSA Awardee
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Wood-Warrington II Press Conference Quotes: Everything that Was Said Ahead of Saturday's Sold-Out Rematch in Nottingham
    , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Opponents for Rising Stars Jimuel Pacquiao Jr. and Curmel Moton on Feb. 28 at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Rising Star Promotions Returns to Prudential Center April 10 LIVE ON PROBOX TV
    , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Sante Barley Trilogy Leg 1 on March 29 in Azuela
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • Team Rapid chess tourney goes to Pasay City on March 8 By Marlon Bernardino
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 20 Feb 2026
  • 3rd Horse Show & competition scheduled on February 21-22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Robinsons Bacolod Chess Festival set
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Alex Bray Set for WBA Continental Latin American Title Clash February 20 in Orlando
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki Calls out Jai Opetaia
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • BREAKING NEWS: DAZN AND MATCHROOM BOXING SIGN NEW FIVE-YEAR DEAL
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 75 climbers start trekking to Mt. Apo today
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 19 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Dainier Pero Locked In Ahead of WBA Continental USA Title Defense in Orlando
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • A Milestone Birthday: Celebrating Brico Santig's 50 Years of Dedication, and Triumph
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • PH bet Chezka Centeno finishes 2nd in Florida
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace”
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.