Team Tapales taps Vincent Astrolabio as sparring partner in Baguio training camp

Team Tapales has tapped former world title challenger and no.1 WBC bantamweight contender Vincent Astrolabio to spar with WBA and IBF world super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales in the final leg of the latter's training camp in Baguio City.

Tapales, 37-3 with 19 knockouts, is currently training in the US and is on a collision course with WBC and WBO world super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue for an undisputed showdown targeted for December 26 in Japan.

The news was first revealed by Astrolabio's coach Nonoy Neri on Sparring Sessions and was later confirmed by Tapales' manager JC Manangquil.

"Marlon will be in Baguio in November for the final stages of his training. We thank Astrolabio and his team for helping Marlon for Naoya Inoue. We also plan to bring 2 or 3 more sparring partners for Marlon in Baguio," Manangquil told GMA News Online.

A two-division champion, the 31-year-old Tapales last saw action in April against Murodjon Akhmadaliev where he pulled off an upset via split decision to win the WBA and IBF world titles.

Astrolabio, meanwhile, is coming off an eleventh-round stoppage over Nawaphon Kaikanha in a WBC title eliminator this past August.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News