OSAKA, Japan – The hardest part outside the fight itself is starting to wear down Filipino champion Marlon Tapales, who only had a paltry serving of vegetables and fruits – and just a sip of water – 24 hours before Saturday’s official weighin for his defense of the World Boxing Organization bantamweight crown.
Tapales, who is beginning to outgrow the 118 lb class, was down to 121 lbs after Friday’s light workout at the Green Tsuda Gym.
When he arrived here Monday, Tapales was at 128 and when he wakes up on the morning of the weighin, he expects to be even lighter.
A quick workout should be enough to get him to 118 and looking forward to his ring date with Shohei Omori at the Edion Arena on Sunday night.
“A little more sacrifice and we’re done,” said Tapales, whose post-weighin diet is already in place.
“He will be having soft-boiled eggs, pasta and bananas,” said lead trainer Fernando Ocon after presiding over Tapales’ final workout.
Despite appearing gaunt, Tapales remained upbeat.
“I had a harder time the last time when I fought in Thailand where I won the title,” he said.
Against Pungluang Sor Singyu in Ayutthaya, Tapales admitted that he was deeply concerned about the making the weight.
Tapales stopped the Thai in 11 rounds and plans to do the same thing to Omori.
“I have no worries at all regarding the fight. Nothing,” he said.
The weight seems to be Tapales’ biggest concern and not Omori.