Both Thailand's WBO Bantamweight Champion Pangluang Sor Singya and Phillipino mandatory challenger Marlon Tapales initially failed their weighs in yesterday. They spent an hour or so trying to strip an extra pound, then stood naked to just make the weight. Today the man known as the Pinoy Destroyer, two time Bantamweight Champion, Pangluang, a man who had never lost to a Phillipino fighter in 20 bouts, lost his belt when counted out in the eleventh.
Tapales looked to have won the first couple of rounds, due to some seriously quick hands. He landed combinations then circled away to take the early points. In the third, Pungluang started to find his range and began pressuring Tapales. The challenger replied and the round was pretty even.
Round five nearly brought an end to the fight, when Pungluang smashed a right hook to Tapales' body, sending him to the canvas. He managed to stagger to his feet, only to be set upon again by Pungluang. The champ sunk a thundering right into Tapales' stomach, dropping for the second time. He barely beat the count and just managed to see out the round.
Oddly enough, Pungluang opened the sixth as though out of gas. He paid for it. Despite being dumped twice in the previous round, Tapales quickly took charge. He unloaded a massive right hand in close which drove Pungluang to the carpet. He was quickly back on his feet, but spent the rest of the round on the back foot.
The seventh was pretty even as both upped the pace.
The fight crawled through the eighth, ninth and tenth. Tapeles probably won the rounds as the champ didn't do all that much. He looked exhausted.
Then came round eleven, and the finish. Tapales exploded out of the gates and pounded a couple of left hooks into Pungluang's body, before smashing through a third. The champion fell back onto the ropes before hitting the canvas. He couldn't beat the count.
The fighter known as the Maranding Nightmare, Marlon Tanan Tapales, now stands atop the WBO Bantamweight Rankings. He's the Champion of the World.
