CEBU, Philippines – Cebu-based Mindanao brawler Marlon “Nightmare’ Tapales will be leaving for Thailand today bringing along with him an extra luggage of hurdling his first world title crack on enemy lines.
Fighting on foreign shores has always been a daunting mission for every Pinoy boxer especially in a hostile territory like Thailand but Tapales (28-2, 11KOs) said he is dead ready for the tough task that lies ahead when he challenges defending Thai champion Pungluang Sor Singyu (52-3, 35KOs) for the WBO bantamweight belt on July 27 at the Ayutthaya Park.
“Sayud ko nga lig-on pud siya nga kontra mao nang ako siyang gipreparahan og maayo,” said Tapales, who earned a mandatory shot at Sor Singyu’s throne after knocking out the previously undefeated Japanese prospect Shohei Omori in the second round during their WBO elimination bout last February 16 at the Shimazu Arena in Kyoto, Japan.
“Wa koy lain nga ikapasalig kun dili ang pagpaningkamot nga kun ugaling maabot man gyud og round ang among away, dapat ako maoy mikontrolar sa duwa. Apan kun naay tsansa, ato gyud siyang tumbahon kay lisud na kay ilaha mang lugar,” added Tapales, who fought and won by majority decision over American Alejandro “Hands of Steel” Solorio on the undercard of Pacquiao-Mosley showdown on May 6, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.
Overall, Tapales has seen action four times abroad, losing only once to David Sanchez by majority verdict during their interim WBC super flyweight title match on February 23, 2013 at the Gimnasio del Estado in Sonora, Mexico.
The 24-year-old Tapales will plane in for Thailand together with his manager Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud and trainers Brix Flores and Fernando Ocon. They will be accompanied by Dong Secuya, the genius behind philboxing.com and veteran boxing writer Nick Giongco. Freeman ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch:
“Kun basihan lang ang among training, taas akong pagsalig ni Tapales nga modaog siya aning awaya. Basta ang ako lang dili lang gyud mokompiyansa,” said Ocon.
For his part, Salud, Cebu’s foremost pro boxing impresario, is excited at the prospect of having another world champion from his RWS Stable where the great Manny Pacquiao once trained for his rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera eight years ago.
“As I’ve said earlier, this boy (Tapales) is full of talent and skills and will become a world champion someday. I just hope this will now be his moment,” said Salud, who guided former two-division world champion Gerry Pe?alosa and ex-WBC flyweight title-holder Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tu?acao during their storied careers.
While Tapales braces for his first world title shot, Sor Singyu will make the second defense of the WBO crown he regained after knocking out Ryo Akaho of Japan on August 7, 2015. He successfully defended it against Filipino Jetro Pabustan last February 12 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
“Andam na kaayo ko ug akong buhaton tanan kutob sa akong mahimo aron modaog kay damgo gyud nako nga ma-world champion,” said Tapales. (FREEMAN)
