Mexican boxer, pinatulog ni Tapales sa 5th round

TINIYAK ni dating WBO bantamweight champion Marlon ‘The Nightmare’ Tapales ng Pilipinas na magkakarooon siya ng world title crack nang patulugin sa 5thround si one-time world title challenger Fernando Vargas Parra ng Mexico sa kanilang 10-round featherweight bout sa Microsoft Theater sa Los Angeles, California sa United States.

Nagsilbing undercard ang sagupaan nina Tapales at Parra sa matagumpay na depensa ni WBA featherweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz ng Mexico sa kababayan nitong si Rafael Rivera.

Ayon sa manedyer ni Tapales na si Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud, handang kumasa sa world title bout ang boksingerong tubong Lanao del Norte lalo’t nakalista itong No. 6 sa IBF at WBO super bantamweight rankings.

“There are a lot of good champions in the featherweight but I know Marlon is up to task and he can beat anybody out there,” sabi ni Salud.

“However he can also fight at junior feather if any champion in that division wants to fight him. It’s up to the PBC [Premier Boxing Champions] and MP Promotions who now co-promotes Marlon to fight a suitable opponent for him in his next fight.”

Napaganda ni Tapales ang kanyang kartada sa 32 panalo, 2 talo na may 15 pagwawagi sa knockouts at maaari ring pumasok sa world rankings ng featherweight division.