OSAKA, Japan ? With nothing but pride and honor at stake, Marlon Tapales fought Sunday night as if there was more on the line before a crowd that turned eerily silent following his dramatic knockout win at the Edion Arena here.
Stripped off the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title after failing to make the division limit of 118 lbs on the eve of the scheduled 12-rounder, Tapales stopped Shohei Omori in the eleventh round of a bloody brawl that on a few occasions put the Japanese on the brink of a win.
But Tapales? pure grit shoved him to the victory that was meant more to soothe his bruised ego as the fight had been declared vacant following the weigh-in fiasco.
Tapales was awarded the win, his 13th KO from 30 victories against two losses, when American referee Celestino Ruiz stepped in early in the 11th stanza.
Tapales had Omori down in the dying seconds of the tenth when a left uppercut sent him reeling and off his feet.
Sensing blood, Tapales rained punches on the visibly shaken Omori but the bell saved him.
Omori would have been awarded the WBO crown if he had won and it looked as though such was going to happen in the fifth frame when he had Tapales in deep trouble after landing vicious head and body blows.
Still, Tapales insists that he knew was going on and he never lost hope.
Tapales was slightly ahead of the cards of the three judges, 95-94, when the roof caved in on Omori.
?Even if there was no title on the line, I promised myself that I won?t hand the crown to him without a fight,? said Tapales, whose reign as WBO king lasted for only nine months.
Wakee Salud, Tapales? manager, said the win ?salvaged some measure of pride.?
?The title is gone but at least Marlon didn?t roll over and die as what normally happens when you lose the title on the scales,? said Salud.
The first time they met in 2015, Tapales needed only two rounds to dispose of Omori but it took him longer this time because he was so drained from trying to make the limit during the weigh-in.
