MANILA – Marlon Tapales delivered as promised. He captured the WBA and IBF super bantamweight titles with a split decision win over dethroned champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev on Saturday night (Sunday in the Philippines) at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.
Tapales had a strong start before slowly fizzling out in the later rounds but still emerged victorious with 110-118, 115-113, 115-113 scores from the three judges and took home his second division world title.
The Tubod, Lanao del Norte-native Tapales had his success in the earlier rounds as he controlled the center of ring and was able to unload solid punches towards Akhmadaliev.
Tapales remained in control of the bout in the second frame as he continue to land single hits on Akhmadaliev but the latter made his presence felt in the third with his cross combinations.
Tapales regained his form in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds with his unpredictable attacks on Akhmadaliev before the latter retaliated in the next two rounds but still not enough to hurt the Filipino.
Knowing that he was behind in the scorecards, Akhmadaliev intensified his attack from 10th round onwards with his combination hits that left Tapales with a hematoma under his right eye but still not enough to turn things around.
Prior to the match, Tapales expressed confidence that he can keep in step with Akhmadaliev’s power punches as he has tasted stronger punches many times over in his career.
“All punches can hurt, it is all heavy and with power. I think Akhmadaliev has a hard hook and overhand so I would have to avoid and defend myself from those punches,” Tapales said in a recent interview with Sparring Sessions.
“I saw weaknesses and holes in his game. His power I think I can take because I have been sparring with big sparring partners so I am used to [taking hard punches],” added the former WBO world bantamweight champion.
With the victory, Tapales improved to 37-3-0 win-loss-draw ring record, including 19 wins by way of stoppages, while Akhmadaliev had his erstwhile perfect record tarnished as he dropped to 11-1-0 slate, including eight KO wins./PN
