Philippines, 06 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Tapales guns for unification


PhilBoxing.com




In a bold move, IBF/WBA superbantamweight champion Marlon Tapales is taking a big risk in foregoing an “easy” title defense to shoot for an immediate unification against the winner of the July 25 showdown between WBO/WBC ruler Stephen Fulton and Naoya (The Monster) Inoue. Tapales’ display of confidence isn’t unwarranted. He’s a former WBO bantamweight king who knows what it takes to win big championship fights. Tapales isn’t out to just prolong his reign, he’s out to make hay while the sun shines and the sun couldn’t be brighter with a huge payday expected in a unification battle.

WBA championships committee chairman Carlos Chavez said a request from former IBF/WBA titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev’s camp was made for a direct rematch with Tapales but “although there are elements that could support it, it is not feasible to do so at this time.” Tapales scored a split 12-round decision to dethrone Akhmadaliev in San Antonio, Texas, last April. Because Tapales was the mandatory challenger, there was no rematch clause in the fight contract. Akhmadaliev could only resort to an appeal for a return bout. Instead of giving in to the Uzbek or taking on an optional “light” challenger, Tapales went for bigger game. He petitioned the WBA for approval to pursue unification and it was granted. “This bout would be a unification of the WBA, IBF, WBC and WBO titles which is a powerful reason to admit it for the sake of boxing,” said Chavez.

Tapales, 31, is the Philippines’ only reigning world boxing champion. If he hurdles either Fulton or Inoue, the southpaw from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, will become the first Filipino undisputed titlist to be recognized simultaneously by the sport’s four major governing bodies. It’s an ambitious goal but Tapales is taking a high-risk, high-reward posture. His record speaks for itself----37-3 with 19 KOs. He’s won his last four outings, three inside the distance. Of his 37 victories, 10 came on foreign soil so he’s used to hostile crowds.

Tapales’ triumph over Akhmadaliev was hailed as “arguably the biggest upset of 2023 to date” by the London weekly trade magazine Boxing News. Tapales built an early lead then survived a late scare to win by a slim margin. Akhmadaliev didn’t conceal his disgust when the decision was announced and barged out of the ring fuming. Boxing News, however, put the outcome in perspective. “Just as it took Marvin Hagler a while to get going in his legendary match with Sugar Ray Leonard, a similar scenario played out between the two southpaws (Tapales and Akhmadaliev),” reported Jack Hirsch in Boxing News. “The Filipino was much more active over the first eight rounds. Uppercuts and jabs landed on Akhmadaliev who was reluctant to throw lefts, leading to speculation that the hand injury he had previously suffered was at play again. It was not until the last few rounds that Akhmadaliev let his hands go with frequency when Tapales started to tire and things started to turn. There was an urgency to Akhmadaliev in the final round as he went all out for a knockout. By that point, Tapales had little left and was just hanging on. Akhmadaliev waited too long to get started and will now have to live with the consequences.”


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Japanese Rule of Lower Weights Under Challenge; Head-Scratching Latest WBC World Rankings
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • UNDERCARD ADDITIONS ANNOUNCED FOR ALLEN v MAKHMUDOV AS HEARN EXPECTS TICKETS TO FLY FOR OCTOBER 11 IN SHEFFIELD
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • Yoenis Tellez to Defend WBA Interim Title Against Abass Baraou in High-Stakes Showdown on DAZN
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • CB Promotions To Debut This Fall
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • 2 Division World Champion, Current WBO, The Ring Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo Lopez Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13,
    , Wed, 06 Aug 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 11 - ALI GETS BACK HIS BOXING LICENSE, WINS OVER QUARRY, BONAVENA AND ELLIS
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 4 AUGUST 2025: Canizales Stops Pradabsri in Caracas; Duarte Outpoints Sims; Prograis Edges Diaz; Ancajas Wins in US Return
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Unforgettable Moments with the Champions
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • IT’S A “HOMECOMING” FOR FIVE-TIME WORLD TITLE CHALLENGER MARICELA CORNEJO FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 AT LEGENDS CASINO
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • HERNANDEZ STOPS GARNETT IN TENTH ROUND IN MAIN EVENT OF CHRISTY MARTIN PROMOTIONS’ “MAYHEM IN MUSIC CITY 2”
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • YOELVIS GOMEZ READY TO SHINE IN RETURN BOUT AGAINST EDWINE HUMAINE JUNIOR
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Team USA’s Youth High Performance Team made a major statement in Germany
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Adam wins 2nd BBG 300 Ultra Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • Legendary boxing trainer John Brown honored by Kansas City Royals
    , Tue, 05 Aug 2025
  • All or nothing for Jerwin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • Triumphant Return: Jerwin Ancajas Defeats Casero in Los Angeles, Good Job!
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • IM Concio Sweeps Kamatyas Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 04 Aug 2025
  • OSCAR "LA MIGRAÑA" DUARTE STUNS HOMETOWN FAVORITE KENNETH “BOSSMAN” SIMS JR. WITH MAJORITY DECISION VICTORY
    , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • JERWIN ANCAJAS DEFEATS RUBEN CASERO IN CALIFORNIA
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • The Bout Outside The Ring: Boxing and the Filipino Struggle for Legitimacy
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • Filipino FIDE Master Roel Abelgas finishes second in Hongkong rapid chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 03 Aug 2025
  • Cañizales defeats Pradabsri and wins WBC title in Venezuela
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • PH's Nouri snags blitz gold in Asian Amateur Chess Championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Boxer
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Sat, 02 Aug 2025
  • Duarte vs. Sims Jr. Title Eliminator Official: All Fighters Make Weight in Chicago
    , Sat, 02 Aug 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.