EAGER to return to action after losing his two world super bantamweight belts to Japanese star Naoya Inoue last December, Marlon Tapales will figure in a comeback fight on May 10 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City, the boxingscene.com reported yesterday.
Organized by MP Promotions, Knucklehead Boxing and Viva Promotions as another treat for local sports fans, Tapales will take on Thai bruiser Nattapong Jankaew, who has a record of 12 wins, eight by knockout, and three losses, Ben Blackwell of boxingscene.com reported.
The two will clash in a 10-round super bantamweight contest “with a World Boxing Council regional title (known as the Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation belt) to be awarded to the winner,” the report said.
It will be the first match for the Filipino fighter, who suffered a 10th-round knockout loss last Dec. 26 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan to the unbeaten Japanese “Monster,” who added the International Boxing Federation super bantam and World Boxing Association super bantam belts to his collection.
Inoue also holds the WBC and World Boxing Organization versions of the belt.
“I learned a lot from my last fight. I will work hard to become a world champion again,” Tapales said in a statement released to the boxing news website.
Former world bantamweight contender Reymart Gaballo will be the co-headliner in the card and will face Mexican Kenbun Torres, who sports a record of 13 wins, nine by knockout, against five losses.
Gaballo, whose only loss in 27 fights (22 KOs) was to compatriot and erstwhile WBC bantam king Nonito Donaire on Nov. 12, 2021, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California, is currently ranked No. 1 in the WBC and WBO ratings.
