Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales (born March 23, 1992 in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Philippines) is a Filipino professional boxer and two-division world champion. He held the WBO bantamweight title from 2016 to 2017 and later unified the WBA (Super) and IBF super-bantamweight titles in 2023. In December 2023, Tapales became the first Filipino to challenge for undisputed honors in the four-belt era, facing Naoya Inoue in Tokyo. Known for his southpaw stance and resilience, Tapales remains a prominent figure in Philippine boxing with over 40 career victories.
Super Bantamweight
Marlon Tapales
Lanao del Norte, Philippines
41Wins
5Losses
0Draws
20KOs
Career: 2008 – present
Biography
World Titles
- IBF / WBA Unified World Super Bantamweight Won Apr 8, 2023 · Lost Dec 26, 2023 (KO Loss) · KO 10 Naoya Inoue
- WBO WBO World Bantamweight Won Jul 27, 2016 · Lost Apr 23, 2017 (Vacated) · KO 11 Panya Uthok
Regional & Other Belts
- WBC WBC International Super Bantamweight Won Apr 27, 2025 · Lost Apr 27, 2026
- WBC WBC Asian Continental Super Bantamweight Won May 10, 2024 · Lost Sep 7, 2025
- WBO WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight Won Aug 1, 2013 · Lost Jun 28, 2015
- Philippines Philippines GAB Light Flyweight Won Apr 9, 2010 · Lost Jun 12, 2011
Fight Record
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 2026 | Yukinori Oguni | D | UD | 10 | Korakuen Hall, Tokyo |
| Oct 29, 2025 | Fernando Toro | D | KO | 6/8 | Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City |
| Apr 27, 2025 | Jon Jon Jet | D | RTD | 3/10 | Venue 88, General Santos City |
| Sep 7, 2024 | Saurabh Kumar | D | UD | 10 | Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh |
| May 10, 2024 | Nattapong Jankaew | D | KO | 1/10 | Midas Hotel and Casino, Pasay City |
| Dec 26, 2023 | Naoya Inoue | D | KO | 10/12 | Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo |
| Apr 8, 2023 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | D | SD | 12 | Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio |
| May 14, 2022 | Jose Estrella | D | KO | 2/8 | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson |
| Dec 11, 2021 | Hiroaki Teshigawara | D | KO | 2/12 | Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson |
| Nov 21, 2020 | Eden Sonsona | D | TKO | 2/10 | Sanman Gym, General Santos City |
| Dec 7, 2019 | Ryosuke Iwasa | D | TKO | 11/12 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Roberto Castaneda | D | KO | 3/10 | Soboba Casino, San Jacinto |
| Feb 16, 2019 | Fernando Vargas Parra | D | RTD | 5/10 | Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles |
| Sep 30, 2018 | Goodluck Mrema | D | KO | 1/10 | SM City North EDSA Skydome, Quezon City |
| Apr 23, 2017 | Shohei Omori | D | TKO | 11/12 | Edion Arena, Osaka |
| Jul 27, 2016 | Panya Uthok | D | KO | 11/12 | Somewhere in, Ayutthaya |
| Dec 16, 2015 | Shohei Omori | D | TKO | 2/12 | Shimazu Arena, Kyoto |
| Jan 31, 2015 | Jecker Buhawe | D | KO | 2/10 | University of SouthEastern Philippines Gym, Davao City |
| Jun 28, 2014 | Fadhili Majiha | D | UD | 12 | Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium, Tubod |
| Apr 13, 2014 | Hayato Kimura | D | — | 5/10 | Sangyo Hall, Kanazawa |
| Feb 8, 2014 | Galih Susanto | D | UD | 10 | Almendras Gym, Davao City |
| Aug 1, 2013 | Fredirex Rodriguez | D | UD | 12 | Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino, Cebu City |
| May 26, 2013 | Ruben Manakane | D | TKO | 4/10 | Sangyo Hall, Kanazawa |
| Feb 23, 2013 | David Sanchez | D | MD | 12 | Gimnasio del Estado, Hermosillo |
| Oct 20, 2012 | Rasmanudin | D | KO | 2/8 | SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City |
| Nov 17, 2011 | Rex Olisa | D | TKO | 3/10 | Flores Auditorium, Lala, Lanao del Norte |
| Oct 9, 2011 | Martin Mubiru | D | UD | 10 | Panphil B. Frasco Memorial Sports Complex, Liloan, Cebu |
| Jun 25, 2011 | Manot Comput | D | KO | 4/10 | Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium, Tubod |
| May 6, 2011 | Alejandro Solorio | D | MD | 6 | Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas |
| Feb 6, 2011 | Charlie Cabilla | D | KO | 1/10 | Dalaguete Sports Complex, Dalaguete, Cebu |
| Nov 5, 2010 | Rey Megrino | D | UD | 10 | Yñares Sports Arena, Pasig City |
| Oct 6, 2010 | Richard Olisa | D | UD | 10 | Glan, Sarangani Province |
| Jun 12, 2010 | Charlie Cabilla | D | UD | 12 | Mayor Vitaliano D. Agan Coliseum, Zamboanga City |
| Apr 9, 2010 | Warlito Parrenas | D | TKO | 7/12 | Mindanao Civic Center Gymnasium, Tubod |
| Jan 23, 2010 | Randy Petalcorin | D | TKO | 2/8 | Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City |
| Nov 8, 2009 | Armando de la Cruz | D | UD | 10 | Barangay Maranding, Lala |
| Aug 29, 2009 | Jerson Mancio | D | UD | 10 | Provincial Capitol Grounds, Cagayan de Oro City |
| May 30, 2009 | Brix Ray | D | RTD | 6/10 | City Auditorium, Surigao City |
| Apr 19, 2009 | Michael Rodriguez | D | UD | 10 | Mahinog Gym, Mahinog, Camiguin |
| Mar 25, 2009 | Rodel Tejares | D | UD | 10 | Barangay Maranding, Lala |
| Jan 15, 2009 | Ryan Tampus | D | UD | 8 | Maasim, Sarangani Provice |
| Dec 27, 2008 | Charlie Lamila | D | TKO | 1/8 | Christ The King Gym, Barangay Maranding, Lala |
| Nov 19, 2008 | Freddie Martinez | D | UD | 6 | Barangay Maranding, Lala |
| Sep 20, 2008 | Jherom Tuyor | D | UD | 6 | Teachers Gym, Dipolog City |
| Aug 23, 2008 | Sherwin McDo Lungay | D | MD | 4 | BS Gym, Lala, Lanao del Norte |
| Jul 18, 2008 | Nestor Gamolo | D | TKO | 1/4 | Barangay Maranding, Lala |
