## #2 TAPALES DEMOLISHES #1 OMORI IN WBO 118LB ELIMINATOR

December 16 2015

KYOTO, JAPAN

Kyoto city is one of world legacies with the beautiful Golden Temple and a great many traditional shrines in the ancient capital of Japan. Kyoto was heavily shaken up as if an earthquake happened when one of our brightest prospects, WBO top ranked bantamweight, previously unbeaten Shohei Omori (15-1, 10 KOs), 117.5, hailing from Kyoto, miserably and disastrously suffered four knockdowns and eventually a quick stoppage at the hand of WBO#2 Filipino Marlon Tapales (28-2, 11 KOs), 116.25, at 1:35 of the second round in a WBO 118-pound eliminator to decide the mandatory challenger on Wednesday.

Who on earth had expected such a lopsided affair between the competitive bantams? Omori, 22, a tall and hard-punching lefty with strong heart, was regarded as a near-future world champ thanks to his latest fine showings over world-rated Mexican Christian Esquivel (KO4), national champ Kentaro Masuda (TKO3) and former world challenger Hirofumi Mukai (TKO6).

In a confrontation of southpaws, only twenty seconds into the opening canto, the very first solid shot of Tapales was a left cross over the Japanesef shoulder, which was so well-timed that quickly dropped Omori to the canvas and caused Omorifs repeatedly buckled knees thereafter.

The shorter Marlon, 23, decked him again with a solid southpaw jab that had him down on the seat of trunks. Though the ref Lou Moret resumed the catastrophe, Tapales had Omori touch the deck with the glove after his follow-up attack?for the third time in the same round. With the three-knockdown rule waived the third man allowed them to go on with the bell coming to his rescue.

The second round, however, witnessed the Japanese youngster badly decked with a vicious right hook when both exchanged a southpaw right at the same time and Tapalesf right caught the chin more quickly and more accurately. Regaining his feet, Omori attempted to outleg and outbox the willing mixer but Tapales had him staggering with an additional combination, when Moret saw no more and declared a halt.

Itfs a pity that Omori displayed nothing before his Kyoto adherents and thus quickly lost in a very important opportunity that would have promised him a mandatory shot to the WBO bantam kingpin Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand.

Tapales, WBO Asia Pacific titlist, had convincingly won last six bouts since he dropped a majority decision to David Sanchez in Mexico in February 2013. All Japanese fight fans gloomily felt a shock wave that Omori, so highly expected by all, succumbed so quickly and so disappointedly.

Japanese lightweight champ Kota Tokunaga (17-2, 11 KOs), 135, an elongated slow starter, barely kept his national belt by eking out a close verdict (96-95, 97-94 twice) over game and wild swinger Kazuhiro Nishitani (15-4-1, 7 KOs), 134.5, over ten.

Promoter: Woz Promotions.

(12-16-2015)

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