Cebuano boxer Tapales lalaban para sa WBO Asia Pacific title

CEBU CITY , Philippines   â€“ Lalaban si Cebu-based Mindanao brawler Marlon Tapales para sa World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight title sa undercard ng WBO bantamweight championship nina defending champion Paulus Ambunda (20-0, 10KOs) ng Namibia at Japanese challenger Tomoki Kameda (27-0, 18KOs) sa Agosto 1 sa Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Haharapin ng 21-anyos na si Tapales (22-2, 9KOs) si Edgar ‘Chololo’ Martinez (15-7, 9KOs), isang Mexican knockout artist na naipanalo ang huli niyang apat na laban via stoppages.

“It’s going to be a great match-up and a surely tough test for Tapales because he’s going up against a fired-up Mexican who won all his four fights last year by knockout,” sabi ni Jun Ablaca, ang local coordinator ng event na inihahandog ng RWS Promotions International ni Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud at ng Kameda Boxing Promotions ng Japan.

Nasa baraha rin ni Martinez ang pitong kabiguan mula kina dating interim WBA minimumweight champion Sammy Gutierrez at Ivan Morales, ang nakababatang kapatid ni Mexican ring legend at future Hall of Famer Erik Morales.

“His (Martinez) ring credential speaks for itself. He fought, although for a losing cause, against great fighters. That makes him a difficult challenge for Tapales,” wika ni Ablaca.

Nawala kay Tapales ang pagkakataon para sa interim WBC Silver super flyweight belt nang matalo siya via majority decision kay David Sanchez noong Pebrero 23 sa Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico na siyang tumapos sa kanyang three-year, 13-fight win streak.

Matapos ito, umiskor siya ng isang fourth-round TKO kay Indonesian Robert Manakane sa Japan noong Mayo.

“His upcoming bout against Martinez will determine if Tapales is ready enough for the bigger stage,” wika ni Ablaca.

Samantala, inaasahang magiging kapana-panabik din na laban naman ang masasaksihan sa pagitan nina Ambunda at Kameda.

Idedepensa ni Ambunda ang kanyang WBO 118-pound crown na kanyang inangkin mula sa isang unanimous decision victory kay dating Thai champ Pungluang Sor Singyo noong Marso 2 sa Windhoek Country Club Resort sa Windhoek, Namibia.