Marlon Tapales upsets Akhmadaliev, claims WBA and IBF world super bantamweight titles

Former bantamweight world champion Marlon Tapales pulled off an upset to become the WBA and IBF world super bantamweight champion following a split decision nod over Murodjon Akhmadaliev this Sunday at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas.

Tapales came out jabbing to the head and body while Akhmadaliev gauged what the Filipino has to offer. Tapales started to throw with bad intentions in round two, making Akhmadaliev react to every punch he threw.

Tapales started round three throwing combinations to the head and body. Akhmadaliev, on the other hand, seemed to struggle to find his rhythm as Tapales mixed his attack to the head and body combined with jabs and power punches.

Tapales worked behind his jab in round 4. Akhmadaliev pressed the action, throwing one jab at a time while his power punches came few and far between

Tapales' jab was a puzzle that Akhmadaliev was unable to solve the following rounds and made the latter miss with his slick defense. Akhmadaliev put on the pressure in round 7 throwing haymakers and left straights that caught Tapales’ attention.

Tapales jabbed, boxed, and countered beautifully the following rounds, never allowing Akhmadaliev to find his tempo all the while avoiding the latter's power punches.

Tapales was not as mobile in round 10, allowing Akhmadaliev to land hard punches at the Filipino. Both fighters tried to close the show strong in round 12 throwing hard combinations at each other but it was Akhmadaliev that got the better of the exchanges.

Two judges saw the fight for Tapales after twelve rounds, earning the Filipino a split decision victory to become the unified super bantamweight champion. The scorecards were 115-113 twice for Tapales and 118-110 for Akhmadaliev.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News