By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

No. 1 WBO bantamweight contender Marlon Tapales will fight Thai world champion Pungluang Sor Singyu in Thailand sometime in December although the 4th has been mentioned as a tentative date.

The Thai who has a record of 51-3 with 31 knockouts won the title for  the second time after stopping Ryu Akaho of Japan in Ratchaburi in the 2nd round last August 7.

Pungluang’s manager Pariyakorn Ratanasuban told the Bangkok Post that “With a win in the fight for the vacant  championship Pungluang must fight within 90 days.”

The charming manager from the famous OneSongchai Gym said “I can confirm that Tapales is next in line as Pungluang’s challenger.” Pariyakorn also added “the venue will be in Thailand but the exact date and place have yet to be finalized. It is likely to be in December.”

The 23 year old southoaw Tapales who is managed and promoted by Rex “Wakee Salud” has a record of 27-2 with 10 knockouts.

He has won six fights in a row since losing a controversial twelve round majority  decision to David Sanchez in Sonora, Mexico in a clash for the WBC Silver title  on February 23, 2013.

Pungluang first won the vacant title by a stunning 9th round TKO over Filipino southpaw AJ “Bazooka” Banal who was leading on the scorecards of two of the three international judges at the time of the stoppage in a ALA Promotions fight card at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Pungluang then lost his title in his first defense against Paulus Ambunda of Namibia by a unanimous twelve round decision in 2013 but after losing by a 7th round knockout to Japan’s Tomoki Kameda in a title fight on July 12, 2014, Pungluang got another shot at the vacant title  and won via an impressive 2nd round knockout of over Japan’s Akaho.

Pariyakorn confirmed in a report by Kittipong Thongsumbat of the Bangkok Post that she would work “to get the fight staged in Thailand to ensure that Pungluang can gain more experience before fighting abroad, again.”

Pariyakorn said she had learned a lot from the bout in 2013 when Pungluang in his first defense as WBO champion lost his belt to Paulus Ambunda by a unanimous decision.

Pungluang himself has said he would prefer to box in the country rather than traveling abroad.