spot_img
28.1 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

‘Tapales must be in top form’

- Advertisement -

LEON Panoncillo, World Boxing Organization vice president for the Asia-Pacific region and official supervisor for the bantamweight world title defense of Thai champion Pungluang Sor Singyu, said mandatory Filipino challenger Marlon Tapales will have to be “in top form” in his title showdown against the Thai in the historic city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, some 85 kilometers north of Bangkok on Wednesday.

Panoncillo, who was also fight supervisor when Tapales beat Japan’s unbeaten prospect Shohei Omori, who had a record of 15-0 with 10 knockouts last Dec. 16 in Kyoto, told The Standard: “Marlon destroyed the Japanese and really looked good, but when he fought in Las Vegas on May 6, 2011 against Alejandro Solorio and won a majority decision over six rounds on the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley undercard, he didn’t look good at all.”

Panoncillo also was the fight supervisor when Pungluang won the vacant title with a stunning ninth-round TKO over AJ “Bazooka” Banal at the Mall of Asia Arena on Oct. 20, 2012.

“I hope Marlon has been training because Pungluang is a tough nut to crack,” said Panoncillo, pointing out that from his experience watching Tapales fight, “he is hot and cold. He has to be at his best against Pungluang because when a Filipino comes to fight here in Thailand, it’s tough because the Thais fight for their country. Marlon must be hot to win here in Thailand.”

- Advertisement -

LATEST NEWS

Popular Articles