TAPALES DEFEATS AKHMADALIEV BY SPLIT DECISION, CAPTURES WBA-IBF BANTAM BELTS (PHOTOS)

Marlon Tapales is back at the top of the world when he upset unified champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekestan to win the WBA-IBF super bantamweight belts by split decision at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) promoted by Matchroom Sports and broadcast live on DAZN.

Judges scorecards: Javier Alvarez had it 118-110 for Akhmadaliev while judges Sergio Caiz and Jose Roberto Torres had it 115 to 113 for Tapales. PhilBoxing also had it 115-113 for Tapales.

Showing sharp movement and stiff jabs, Tapales controlled the tempo in the first half of the fight as Akhmadaliev could not find his distance and was a bit confused on how to penetrate the Filipino. Tapales was beating Ahkmadaliev to the punch and connected with several eye-popping uppercuts. Marlon had the first half wrapped up winning five rounds to one.

Akhmadaliev came back strong in the second half of the fight to narrow the gap in the scorecards but Tapales held on to the finish line to secure the victory.

Tapales is now a two-division world champion previously winning the WBO bantamweight title in 2016. Tapales has also become the Philippines' second reigning world champion to date after Melvin Jerusalem won the WBO minimumweight title last January.

Tapales improved his record to 37-3-0 with 19KOs and gave Akhmadaliev his first defeat to drop to 11-1, 8KOs.