Tapales guns for WBC crown

MARLON “The Nightmare” Tapales guns for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver super flyweight crown today against Mexican prospect David Sanchez at the Gimnasio del Estado in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

Tapales easily made weight and was even two pounds under the super flyweight limit at 113 pounds, while Sanchez tipped the scales at 114 ½ pounds.

The 20-year-old Tapales, who trains at the RWS Gym in Cebu City under the guidance of Juanito Ablaca, aims to break into the world rankings by snagging the WBC silver belt in his first fight in Mexico. This is also Tapales’ first time to fight for an international belt.

Tapales has so far been impressive in his career, winning 13 straight fights since dropping to Brix Ray four years ago. Tapales has beaten the likes of Pan Asian Boxing Association light flyweight king Randy Petalcorin, Japan-based Filipino Wars Katsumata and RP light flyweight champion Jerson Mancio.

Tapales’ last trip was a second round technical knockout over Indonesian Rasmanudin in October.

Sanchez, in the meantime, is also on a roll. He has won nine straight fights since 2011.

Most of the boxers that Sanchez has faced are prospects and are also untested like him. The most prominent name that he has faced and defeated was former world title contender Francisco Rosas.

Sanchez scored a sixth-round technical knockout over Omar Rosales in his last fight in September.

Tapales is 21-1 with eight knockouts, while Sanchez is 19-2-2 with 15 knockouts.