Marlon Tapales says he sees holes in unified champ Murodjon Akhmadaliev's game

Marlon Tapales believes he has spotted some weaknesses in IBF and WBA world super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev ahead of their showdown on April 8 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.

Tapales, a former bantamweight world champion who holds a record of 36-3 with 19 knockouts, is coming off a three-fight winning streak all by way of stoppage. He has tasted the canvas many times over in his career but is nevertheless confident that he can take Akhmadaliev’s power.

“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 an interview on 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].”

The 28-year-old Akhmadaliev from Uzbekistan is widely regarded for having power in both hands and holds a perfect record of 11-0 with 8 knockouts. But Tapales believes that he knows what needs to be done to emerge victorious on fight night.

“As a boxer, I know what to do in there to overcome his style and counter to him and emerge victorious,” Tapales quipped.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News