Philippines, 11 May 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Is the Philippines Ready for Tapales vs. Villanueva WBO Title Fight?


PhilBoxing.com




Boxing is indeed a strange sport and sometimes the gods of boxing do certain things that are not exactly palatable and it forces stakeholders to do things they rather not do or some boxing fans and pundits hope does not happen.

Case in point: The possible Marlon Tapales vs Arthur Villanueva WBO bantamweight title fight.

The Philippines to date has only a handful of world champions. Tapales is the latest one to earn a title by beating Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand for the WBO bantamweight title.

Villanueva on the other hand last Saturday scored a spectacular 2nd round KO of his Mexican rival, Juan Jimenez on a re-match of the controversial fight between the two in Bacolod last May. He is now ranked No. 1 to Tapales? crown.

Therefore, it is not too far off that WBO will order a fight between Tapales and Villanueva particularly if Tapales takes care of his next assignment in Japan against Takuma Inoue on December 30th.

After that, Tapales may opt for another voluntary defense of his title. If he wins, Villanueva, per WBO rules, becomes his mandatory challenger.

The possible fight between the two Filipinos is eliciting different reactions because the last time two Filipinos fought for a title was in 1925.

To the fighter?s handlers, the fight is a bitter pill but not too hard to swallow. Tapales? manager, Wakee Salud has no problem with the possible Pinoy vs Pinoy title fight but he wants ALA Boxing Promotions, the handler of Villanueva to do the fight and ?give them a good offer?. Michael Aldeguer of ALA says if it?s mandated, he has no problem with it either.

Las Vegas-based Bobby Macabagdal of the Asian Journal also think that a Tapales vs. Villanueva

?will be great and it will show the world that Filipinos are world-class fighters?.

That scenario how ever does not sink in too well with some boxing fan I spoke with. ?Why let two Filipinos fight for a title when we can go after other titles held by non-Filipinos and have the potential to have two worlds champions?, he emphatically said. Another said: ?It?s not good to have two Pinoys fight for a title, because the fighters stand to make more money if they fight abroad against other title-holders. They may not get that in the Philippines.?

Nick Giongco, a first-rate sports writer from Manila Bulletin stated ?that?s the last thing I want to see and cover. Di pa tayo ready sa ganyan? (We are not ready for such stuff)."

Many think Giongco is absolutely right and so are the two above-mentioned fans I spoke to. Title fights between two compatriots is common in Mexico and other countries. But these countries have tons of talents and plenty of top-rated fighters. The Philippines have but a few. In fact, we cannot even hold monthly top caliber fight events on a continuing basis because of a very shallow pool of talents. Therefore, for us to say: -? Hey they can do it in Mexico, so can we? stretching it .

Simply put, we can?t!. That is until we develop more top caliber boxers.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Suarez vows all-out war
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 11 May 2025
  • Suarez Looks to Exploit Navarrete's Weight Problem
    By Ed de la Vega, DDS, , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • Weekend Preview & Picks for ESPN, DAZN, & ProBox Bouts
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • Weights from Fort Washington, MD
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • Navarrete, Suarez Make Weight for WBO Title Clash; Muratalla and Abdullaev Ready for Interim IBF Battle
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • HIGHLY-TOUTED BANTAMWEIGHT ADAM MACA SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • CAPITO CRASHES OUT IN TITLE DEFENCE AS YAPP ENDS UK OPEN REIGN | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Sat, 10 May 2025
  • A TRIO OF MATCHUPS ADDED TO "CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH: A NIGHT OF BOXING" PRESENTED BY 555 MEDIA AND BASH BOXING
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SHAW SURGES AS CAPITO STUMBLES IN TITLE DEFENCE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • 2025 USA Boxing Youth Men’s and Women’s High Performance Teams announced
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Jessie Villasin chess tournament on Sunday
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: San Diego Favorite Emanuel Navarrete Set to Reignite Mexico-Philippines Rivalry against Charly Suarez
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CLARESSA SHIELDS vs. LANI DANIELS SATURDAY, JULY 26 * LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Unbeaten Anthony Velazquez pitched shutout at home in Springfield
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • TYSON FURY VOTED THE MOST ENTERTAINING BOXER IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO BRITISH FANS
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • Undefeated super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum preparing to ‘Make a big splash’ vs. Bek Melikuziev
    , Fri, 09 May 2025
  • OKC Routs Denver; 149-106, Ties Series; Semis Series in East Remain Topsy-turvy as Boston Goes Down 0-2 With 91-90 Loss to NY
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • SHAW SENDS A MESSAGE IN HUNT FOR UK OPEN GLORY | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • WBO presents the Amanda Serrano Championships
    , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • GM Antonio faces tough competition in ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 May 2025
  • Boxing: Entertainment Sport or Sport Entertainment?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • JIM LAMPLEY'S BOOK TOUR IS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK!
    , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • CAPITO IGNITES TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE | 2025 UK OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 07 May 2025
  • Sol Levinson: The Man Whose Gloves Elevated Boxing
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 06 May 2025
  • Undefeated Cuban Heavyweight Prospect Dainier Pero Finishes Intense Las Vegas Training Camp Ahead of May 9 MVP Main Event on DAZN
    , Tue, 06 May 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.