TAPALES FACES OMORI DEC 16 IN JAPAN FOR WBO BANTAM ELIMINATOR

Tapales.

WBO No. 1 rated Filipino bantamweight contender Marlon Tapales will face Japan's Shohei Omori, who is rated No. 3, in a title eliminator with the winner becomes the mandatory challenger to Thai champion Pungluang Sur Singyu, Tapales's manager Wakee Salud has informed Philboxing. The fight has been set for Dec. 16 at Omori's backyard in Kyoto, Japan.

It was earlier reported that Tapales will challenge Pungluang's title directly sometime in December but Omori's team has lobbied for the eliminator, according to Salud.

?We gave it to them,? Salud said. ?But we're confident Tapales can handle the Japanese.?

Omori (15-0-0, 10KO) himself has earlier been penciled to face Filipino Mark John Yap for the Japan bantamweight title on the December 16 date.

Tapales (27-2-0, 10KO) racked up six straight victories after failing to win the WBA interim super flyweight title against David Sanchez on Feb. 2, 2013 in Hermosillo, Mexico. Tapales's last outing was against Jecker Buhawe on Jan. 31, 2015 in Davao City where he knocked out Buhawe (16-11-1) in the 2nd round.