Fall twice, win anyway

Labangon-trained Marlon Tapales defies odds, KOs Sor Singyu for WBO bantamweight crown

THE Philippines has a new boxing world champion, after Marlon Tapales defied all odds to knock out Pungluang Sor Singyu yesterday at the Ayutthaya City Park in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

Tapales showed a lot of grit and heart, surviving two knockdowns, to beat Sor Singyu in the 11th round.

According to a report on Philboxing.com, the 24-year-old Tapales was dropped by Sor Singyu twice in the fifth round with body shots. Sor Singyu chased Tapales but the latter survived the round.

Tapales went into the sixth round with no ill effects from the punishment he absorbed the previous round. He quickly turned the tides around and sent the 26-year-old Sor Singyu down to the canvass with a vicious right in that round.

Tapales had Sor Singyu backing up and knocked him out with a left straight to the head in the 11th round.

Tapales, who trains at the RWS Gym in Labangon under Fernando Ocon, snagged the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crown and improved to 29-2 with 12 knockouts.

Sor Singyu, on the other hand, suf- fered his first career defeat against a Filipino in 21 bouts and dropped to 52-4 with 35 knockouts. Sor Singyu is infamous in the Philippines for knocking out AJ Banal in their WBO bantamweight fight in 2012 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

In the last few days leading up to the fight, Tapales had to endure a few problems – not being provided with a car service for his training, long travels from his hotel to the weigh-in venue and also a two-ride from his hotel to the venue before the fight. But that didn't bother Tapales at all, which was evident in his impressive finish.

ALA Promotions is close to signing a promotional deal with Tapales, which could feature him in future events in the US, after a talk between ALA Promotions matchmaker Edito Villamor and Tapales' manager Rex "Wakee" Salud.

Tapales joins WBO light flyweight king Donnie Nietes, WBO super bantamweight titleholder Nonito Donaire Jr. and International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight titlist Johnriel Casimero as the Philippines' fourth current world champion.