By Waylon Galvez
Former WBO bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales makes his much-awaited comeback as he highlights the five-card event of the Sanman Boxing Promotions on Nov. 21 at the Sanman Gym in General Santos City.
This marks the first fight for 28-year-old Tapales in more than 10 months or since he absorbed a stinging loss to Japanese Ryosuke Iwasa last Dec. 7 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, USA.
With a ring record of 33 wins (16KOs) against three losses, Tapales, who belongs to Sanman Boxing Promotions, is slightly favored over Eden Sonsona in a light welterweight (132 lbs.) 10-round fight.
JC Manangquil, Chief Operating Officer of the Sanman Boxing Promotions, said Thursday that they are all set for the event, particularly with the health protocols in place to combat the spread of COVID-19.
“We are excited and we are all happy that finally we’ll have this boxing event in General Santos City,” Manangquil told Manila Bulletin-Tempo. “We’re all set, we did all the necessary things – especially with the heath protocols that we are implementing for a safe event.”
“We really want to help the boxer, that’s why the return of boxing competition is very good for us, that finally we’re allowed by the government to have boxing events and this is a big boost.”
The event is the second boxing competition to be approved by the government through the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) under the tripartite agencies of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Department of Health (DOH).
Cebu staged a successful four-card event last month via the Omega Boxing Promotions that was sanctioned by GAB.
