Tapales exceeds limit, loses crown

MANILA, Philippines - Marlon Tapales of the Philippines lost his WBO bantamweight title on the scales yesterday in Osaka, Japan.

Tapales trained for a hundred days for his title fight against Japanese challenger Shosheiy, whom he knocked out in the second round the first time they met in 2015.

Tapales, who hails from Lanao del Norte, did everything during training – except keeping his weight in check.

The 25-year-old Pinoy boxer showed up during yesterday’s official weigh-in 1.75 pounds over the weight limit of 118 pounds.

The challenger was half a pound below the limit.

From the start, it appeared that Tapales was not going to make it. He was given two hours to drop the excess baggage but returned to the scales the way he did on his first try.

Tapales, managed by Cebu’s Wakee Salud, arrived in Osaka last Monday eight or nine pounds over the limit, and did everything he could, trying to lose weight like he was on a hunger strike. It didn’t work.

The Filipino lost his title without taking a punch.

But the fight will push through today as scheduled at the Edion Arena in Osaka. If Tapales wins the fight, the title will be declared vacant. If Omori wins, he will be crowned the new WBO bantamweight champion.

Losing a world title on the scales is the worst thing that could happen to a boxer.