Philippines, 19 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


TAPALES TARGETS UNIFICATION BOUT WITH WBC CHAMP YAMANAKA


PhilBoxing.com




CEBU CITY ? On the eve of his departure for Osaka, Japan to defend his WBO world bantamweight title against local boy Shohei Omori on April 23 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Marlon Tapales revealed that the fight he wants most in the immediate future is a unification bout with WBC world bantamweight titleholder Shinsuke Yamanaka, the undefeated Japanese fighter who captured his belt in 2011 and successfully defended it twelve times since. Yamanaka has defeated an array of name fighters including Vic Darchinyan, Tomas Rojas, Liborio Solis and Anselmo Moreno twice. Yamanaka put a stop on former Filipino world champion Malcolm Tunacao's comeback bid when he knocked out the Cebu native in the final round on April 8, 2013 in Yamanaka's third defense of his title.

?Yes, that's the fight that I really wanted, a unification bout with Yamanaka because I want to fight with the best out there,? Tapales told Philboxing after doing a light workout Saturday at the Wakee Salud Gym.

Tapales, 25, who has shown a marked improvement in power during his last several fights, feels he is still peaking as a boxer and looks forward to being a world champion for a long time. And what better statement to make for the budding champion than by beating the unbeaten Yamanaka?


WBC world bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka.

But first things first ? Tapales, who weighed 127 lbs Saturday 9 lbs over the bantamweight limit, has to get past his opponent on April 23 and him and his team have declared that all bases had been covered.

?I can't afford to be over-confident against Omori (18-1-0, 13KOs) because I know he is determined to exact revenge against his only loss,? Tapales, who stopped Omori in the 2nd round on Dec. 16, 2016 for the right to face then world champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand, said. Since then, Omori had racked up three victories, all by knockout, the last one was against two-time world title challenger Rocky Fuentes of the Philippines.

Tapales (29-2-0, 12KOs) who had trained for more than 2 months for this fight and had logged more 100 rounds of sparring, said he is prepared to whatever Omori brings at the top of the ring.


Tapales (L) catches Omori with a right during their first fight on Dec. 16, 2015 in Kyoto, Japan.

?Last time we met, he was aggressive from the start but when he felt my power, he ran. This time whether he's aggressive or box around, I'm determined to put the pressure on him,? Tapales said who added that ?I'm aiming for a knockout but let's see what he does when the fight starts.?

Tapales's humble trainer Fernando Ocon, who engineered Tapales's first win over Omori, said, ?I think we have a good chance of beating Omori again this time.?

Tapales will leave Cebu for Osaka Monday morning, April 17, accompanied by a large contingent headed by his manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud and wife Elvira and their son Ryan, Tapales's mother Maria, trainers Fernando Ocon and Brix Flores, boxer John Neil Tabanao who will see action on the undercard against Teiru Atsumi, former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa, Dodie Boy Penalosa's wife Ann, Thai boxing aficionado Narong Hengtrakul, Dan Ismael Lim, Tito Abella, Roy Jumaoas Jr and this writer. Veteran boxing journalists Nick Giongco of The Manila Bulletin and Roy Luarca of The Inquirer will follow on Wednesday to also cover the fight.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • UFC® RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY WITH BLOCKBUSER CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION LEO ATANG SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • “KING” RYAN GARCIA SAN DIEGO MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM ORLANDO FLORIDA
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Super Lightweight Israel Mercado Looks to Keep Momentum Going this Saturday in Long Beach
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Middleweight Slugger Raul Salomon Returns to Action April 19 at Thunder Studios in Long Beach
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • BOXING INSIDER BRINGS DOMINGUEZ BACK TO SONY HALL MAY 9
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • IM Michael Concio rules Bangkok Blitz chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • LIM, VICENTE TOP BANTON CHESS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • SMITH VS. GERMAIN + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • There Are No Miracles— Just Nora Aunor
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Heavyweight Contender Lenier Pero Set to Shine on April 18 at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • New Champion, New Era: Lightweight King Keyshawn Davis Defends Throne Against Edwin De Los Santos in Homecoming June 7 at Norfolk’s Scope Arena LIVE on ESPN
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Rising Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran draws undefeated Isaiah Johnson for Friday's opening round of the inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION KELLY “THE GHOST” PAVLIK TO ATTEND 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • Beltran faces Crenz in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Into to fight Jones in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • USA Boxing International Concludes Day Two Competition
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Little Pancho: A Filipino Fighter in the Ring, an American Soldier to the End
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Beltran ready to fight in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Arca stuns English GM, maintains share of top spot in Bangkok Chess Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Melvin’s target is Collazo
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Piala fights Choki in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 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.