Tapales gains crack at WBO Asia-Pac title

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu-based Mindanao brawler Marlon Tapales gets another break as he vies for the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight title in the undercard of the WBO bantamweight championship between defending champion Paulus Ambunda (20-0, 10KOs) of Namibia and Japanese challenger Tomoki Kameda (27-0, 18KOs) on Aug. 1 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino here.

The 21-year-old Tapales (22-2, 9KOs) will take on Edgar “Chololo” Martinez (15-7, 9KOs), a resurgent Mexican knockout artist who won all his four fights last year 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,” said Jun Ablaca, local coordinator of the highly-anticipated event co-presented by RWS Promotions International of Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud and Kameda Boxing Promotions of Japan.

Martinez, however, had seven losses dealt by former interim WBA minimumweight champion Sammy Gutierrez and Ivan Morales, younger brother of Mexican ring legend and 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,” said Ablaca.

Tapales also lost his bid for the interim WBC Silver super flyweight belt by majority decision to David Sanchez last Feb. 23 in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, ending a three-year, 13-fight win streak.
He, however, came back strong with a fourth-round TKO of Indonesian Robert Manakane in Japan last month.

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

Meanwhile, the main event features an exciting showdown between two undefeated warriors in Ambunda and Kameda.

Ambunda sets out for his first defense of the WBO 118-pound crown he seized with a unanimous decision victory over former Thai champ Pungluang Sor Singyo last March 2 at the Windhoek Country Club Resort in Windhoek, Namibia. 

Sor Singyo is best remembered by Pinoy fans as the boxer who defeated ALA Gym boxer AJ “Bazooka” Banal in their world title match last year at the MOA Arena.