Even on what is traditionally a rest day, world bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales went the extra mile on Sunday by running from Labangon in Cebu City to Liloan town.
Forty-seven days before he defends the World Boxing Organization 118-lb crown against challenger Shohei Omori on April 23 at the Edion Arena in Osaka, Japan, Tapales is clearly shifting into high gear.
While Tapales had beaten Omori in late-2015, the Lanao del Norte-born fighter from the Wakee Salud Stable remains wary of his first title defense opponent.
“Things are different now…he is fighting for a world title and it will be foolish to take him lightly even if I had already knocked him out,” said Tapales, who won the WBO title last July in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
Omori, who is 24 years old like Tapales, insists that he has vastly improved since the brutal beatdown at the hands of the puncher based in the Queen City.
“It was disappointing to lose (the) last time and I want to show Tapales (that) I have improved,” Omori (18-1-0 with 13 KOs), told the Japan Times.
Tapales (29-2 with 12 KOs) was supposed to defend the title last Dec. 30 in Tokyo but his foe, Takuma Inoue sustained an injury during training, forcing promoters to scrap the fight.
Helping Tapales reach peak form are topnotch trainers in former pro Fernando Ocon and Brix Flores, the 1986 Seoul Asian Games bronze medalist.