HIS DREAM IN HIS GRASP. New WBO bantamweight world champion Marlon “Maranding Nightmare” Tapales holds the WBO belt he snatched from legendary Thai fighter Pongluang Sor Singyu last Wednesday via 11th round knockout (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Marlon Tapales, the country’s newly-minted WBO World bantamweight champion, arrived in Cebu almost unnoticed yesterday, as only his stablemates from the RWS Boxing Gym and some supporters laid out the red carpet.
Tapales dethroned erstwhile champion Pongluang Sor Singyu last Wednesday with a stunning 11th round knockout in the latter’s hometown in Thailand.
In his simple victory party yesterday at the RWS Boxing Gym in barangay Labangon, Cebu City, Tapales thanked Filipinos for their prayers and God for keeping him safe in his title fight in enemy territory. Thailand is notorious in the boxing world for hometown decisions.
The dynamite-fisted slugger from Lanao del Norte, also said that he is willing to fight anyone in the bantamweight division if the price is right. “I think I can fight anyone in my division. But everything has to depend on my promoter,” said Tapales, who wore a simple, round neck, green t-shirt and jeans during the presscon.
“As long as I have the proper training, I think I can fight anyone in my division.”
He also expressed excitement over his impending contract signing with ALA Promotions International but said that even if he is already under the giant promotions company, he will still train at the RWS Gym of boxing impressario Rex “Wakee” Salud.
“I developed my skills here at RWS Boxing Gym and although I am happy that ALA Promotions is willing to promote me, I would like to continue my training here at the RWS Gym because this is where I started my career,” Tapales explained.
Even before his fight with Sor Singyu in Thailand, ALA Promotions International has already courted Salud, Tapales’ promoter, to promote the boxer’s upcoming fights regardless of the result of the Tapales-Sor Singyu duel.
Tapales said that he is glad about the ALA Promotions-RWS agreement as it will allow him to be recognized more.
One of his trainers, Brix Flores said that there is no rematch clause in the fight contract of Tapales and Sor Singyu. Flores, an Olympian, said that his ward’s mandatory title defense is still six months away.
Tapales is the first Filipino to beat Sor Singyu. The Thai has claimed the scalp of 20 Filipino boxers including ALA Gym’s AJ “Bazooka” Banal during their title fight in 2012.