Boxer Tapales scores WBC title victory
Marlon Tapales, the old-time world champion, knocked Jon Jon Jet out in the third round to snag the WBC International Silver super-bantamweight title at Venue 88, General Santos City, on April 27, 2025. Jet's corner threw in the towel due to a snapped schnoz.
Now clocked in at 33, Tapales upgrades his record to 40-4, with 21 knockouts, leaving Jet with a disappointing 15-2-1, 12 KOs.
Tapales isn't slowing down, aiming for a crack at the big leagues before the year's end, according to Sanman Promotions CEO JC Manangquil. With Naoya Inoue reportedly eyeing a move to the featherweight division, Tapales' promoter is simply waiting for the right moment to strike.
With WBC (No. 2), IBF (No. 3), and WBA (No. 5) bakings, Tapales stands tall among the super-bantamweights, but Inoue, who holds all four belts in the division, might just be the next hurdle for our champ.
Joey Canoy, another world-rated contender, also made short work of Minh Phat Sam, securing the vacant WBC International minimumweight title in the co-main event of the night. It was Canoy's 24th win, with the 15th KO, as Sam dropped to 10-6-2, 8 KOs.
Like Tapales, Canoy has got his eyes set on a world title shot. Currently ranked by the IBF and WBC at No. 3, No. 8 by the WBO, and No. 13 by the WBA, Canoy's next big challenge is well within sight.
The undercard featured some exciting fights, with Christian Pitt Laurente, Kevin Villanueva, Cholo Alvarez, and Christopher Medina rounding off the night with impressive victories.
Though no confirmation has surfaced regarding Tapales' next potential world title opponent, his recent win and the looming departure of Inoue from the super-bantamweight division may create an opening for the Filipino champ to step up and challenge the big guns in the division.
[1] Marlon Tapales to headline April 27 Gulf Coast Promotions card in General Santos
[2] Sanman Boxing signs Marlon Tapales to multi-year promotional contract
[3] Marlon Tapales wins WBC super-bantamweight Silver belt in Philippines
[4] Naoya Inoue: Unified super-bantamweight champion (WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO)
[5] Live updates and fight results for Gulf Coast Promotions event in General Santos, Philippines, April 27, 2025
- After securing the WBC International Silver super-bantamweight title on April 27, 2025, Marlon Tapales, the boxer and former world champion, is eyeing a crack at the big leagues before the year's end, with the help of CEO JC Manangquil of Sanman Promotions.
- Having upgraded his record to 40-4, with 21 knockouts, after defeating Jon Jon Jet, Tapales finds himself standing tall among the super-bantamweights in 2025, with possible future opponents including Naoya Inoue, the unified super-bantamweight champion.
- With news circulating about Inoue's potential move to the featherweight division, Tapales' promoter is waiting for the right moment to strike, hoping to challenge the big guns in the super-bantamweight division and possibly claim all the belts, just like Inoue.
