Tapales, Bornea seek world titles
Marlon Tapales and Jade Bornea are on a mission to become world champions with the dream of fighting for the crown soon to come true. Tapales, 30, will challenge IBF superbantamweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan in San Antonio, Texas, on April 8 while Bornea, 27, will engage IBF superflyweight ruler Fernando Martinez of Argentina at a still to be determined venue in May. Tapales and Bornea belong to JC Manangquil’s SanMan stable in General Santos City. They’re training in Los Angeles with coaches Ernel Fontanilla and Ting Ariosa. Former world No. 3 hurdler Larry Wade, 48, is their strength/ conditioning coach. Wade has worked with ex-world champions Shawn Porter, Badou Jack and Caleb Plant.
“We waited a long time for this to happen,” said Ariosa, the Philippines’ 1984 Olympics boxing coach who migrated to the US in 1986 and was in town for a brief visit. “Marlon is very hard-working and probably the strongest puncher in the superbantamweight division today. Murodjon moves around all the time, throws a lot of punches and has won all his pro fights by doing just that. Team Tapales is working every day to immobilize Murodjon from start to finish. Jade will be in the best shape when he fights Martinez. He can outbox Martinez because of his superior boxing skills and abilities plus his willingness to undergo hard strength and conditioning training.”
Ariosa said with Wade joining the team, the fighters are in good hands. “They’ll be very well prepared,” said Ariosa. “Marlon and Jade want to be champions so bad that they’ve been training away from their families for a long time now. Marlon got married in Lanao del Norte last June and went to LA three months later. Jade is on the phone every day with his wife and two kids.” It won’t be easy to dethrone the unbeaten titleholders. Murodjon, 28, is a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and his record is 11-0, with eight KOs. Martinez, 31, has a 15-0 slate, with eight KOs, and twice defeated former champion Jerwin Ancajas. But Tapales, who once held the WBO bantamweight crown, said he’s ready to dethrone Murodjon. Bornea said he’s out to avenge Ancajas’ losses. “Jerwin and Jade are good friends,” said Ariosa. “Now he has a chance to pay back Martinez for beating Jerwin.”