Tapales makes anticipated ring return in March

Following a long layoff, former world champion Marlon Tapales makes his much-anticipated ring return on March 17 at the Bendigo Exhibition Centre in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.

Tapales will be in a 10-rounder against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. He will be fighting in the card alongside teammate Neil John Tabanao (14-4, 10 KOs) and Fil-Aussie Dino Rafaeles (4-0, 1 KO).

Others slated in the card are Indian Sagar Nawat (1-0), Thai Paranpetch Tor Buamas (21-2, 17 KOs), and Aussies Brad Morgan (5-0, 4 KOs) and Matthew Hall (40-1, 2 KOs).

“Tapales has never stopped training. His training is going well,” said RWS International matchmaker Willy Flores told SunStar Cebu.

Tapales won the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title with an 11th round knockout of Pungluang Sor Singyu in Thailand last year.

In his first title defense this year, Tapales lost his world title on the scales after weighing-in over the 118-pound limit.

He, however, knocked out Shohei Omori in the 11th round of their rematch last April, leaving the title vacant.

Tapales was offered a fight against Cesar Juarez for the interim WBO super bantamweight belt. But Tapales and his team decided not to take the fight because it was too close and his weight was way off.

Tapales will be campaigning as a 122-pounder starting with his fight in March.