AFTER more than a year of absence, former world champion Marlon Tapales finally makes his ring return as he takes on Tanzanian Goodluck Mrema in one of the featured fights of Gerry Pens Promotions’ “Philippines vs. Tanzania” on Sept. 30 in the SM Skydome.
The 26-year-old Tapales last saw action last April 23, 2017, when he lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight belt on the scales after coming in overweight in a rematch against Shohei Omori in Osaka, Japan. He, however, came out victorious with an 11th-round technical knockout of Omori.
Since then Tapales hasn’t seen any action in the ring.
Boxer-turned-promoter Gerry Peñalosa gave Tapales a fight and included him in his event that also features unbeaten interim World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight king Reymart Gaballo and his nephews Dave and Carlo Peñalosa.
“We’ll see if he is still good,” Gerry, a two-division world champion, told SunStar Cebu.
The fight with Mrema, 23, should be a good gauge of what level Tapales is at right now.
Mrema came to the Philippines last year to face Jeo Santisima in Cebu City. He got knocked out in just a single round. After that, Mrema won five straight fights before losing two of his last three bouts this year.
Tapales has changed his environment, from training at the RWS Gym in Labangon to the Sanman Gym in Gen. Santos City.
Tapales is 30-2 with 13 knockouts, while Mrema is 22-3 with 12 knockouts.
After a shocking unanimous decision win over highly-touted Stephon Young, Gaballo (19-0, 16 KOs), who also fights out of the Sanman Gym, will keep himself busy with a non-title 10-rounder against veteran Tanzanian Julias Kisarawe (29-6-1, 15 KOs).
Meanwhile, Carlo (12-1, 5 KOs) faces off with James Kibazange (11-2-2, 1 KO) for the vacant WBA Asia South flyweight belt. (EKA)