Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BONSUBRE: BAD WEEKEND FOR PHILIPPINE BOXING


PhilBoxing.com




It was heartbreaking to look at photos of a distraught and dehydrated Marlon Tapales being told by the WBO fight supervisor that he was already an ex-champion without even taking a single punch from his Japanese opponent, Shohei Omori.

I can only imagine what was going through his mind, knowing there was a contingent of Filipinos and foreign friends of boxing manager and promoter Wakee Salud who traveled with him to Osaka, Japan with big expectations.

Tapales has yet to cash in on his boxing career. He was looking forward to bigger paydays, bigger fights. This was supposed to be his first title defense. He was 1.93 lbs over the bantamweight limit on his second try.

This fiasco led to the fight between Arthur Villanueva and South African Zolani Tete in Leicester, United Kingdom being sanctioned by the WBO as an interim world title fight. This was supposed to be an eliminator for a shot at Tapales? title.

I don?t recall Villanueva ever facing a tall, shifty and skillful southpaw in his eight year pro career. So fighting Tete must have been like facing an alien.

It was only a flash knockdown when Villanueva was counted in round eleven. But it was devastating to a boxer who had to play catch-up all the way. All Tete needed to do was not get caught with a Hail Mary punch in the twelfth round. The scores ? 120-107, 119-108 twice ? showed Tete?s overall dominance.

Tete (25-3,20KO?s) is a former IBF world super flyweight champion. This was the second attempt at the world championship level for Villanueva (30-2,16KO?s), who fights out of the ALA gym of Cebu. Two years ago, he fought Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo for the title vacated by Tete and lost a 10th round technical decision in Texas.

Tapales however did what most Filipino fight pundits expected. He knocked out Omori again, this time it took much longer.

Tapales 11th round TKO win over Omori meant that the WBO world bantamweight title is vacant but Tete could very well be elevated to regular champion.

Last December 2015, Tapales stopped Omori in two rounds. Tapales, who fights out of the RWS Gym of Cebu, is now 30-2,13KO?s while Omori drops to 18-2,13KO's.

Villanueva is 28 years old. He may get another world title shot. Same goes for Tapales, who is only 25. But the RWS gym trainers will have to ponder if Tapales can still fight at 118 lbs.

The much talked about all-Filipino world title showdown will remain a dream for the meantime.

It was on May 2, 1925 when Pancho Villa successfully defended his world flyweight crown against countryman Clever Sencio by fifteen round unanimous decision in Wallace Field, Manila.
In 1938, two boxers from La Carlota, Negros Occidental, Small Montana and Little Dado fought for California version of world flyweight title in Oakland, California. Dado won a points verdict after ten rounds.

Another world title fight between two Filipinos could still happen if former two-division champion John Riel Casimero of Ormoc City, Leyte - who has stated his intention to fight at 115lbs - will get to challenge the reigning IBF super flyweight champ Jerwin Ancajas of Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Photo ? Marlon Tapales (left) and Arthur Villanueva during the 35th SMB-SAC Cebu Sports Awards last February.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 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.