From virtual unknown, Tapales returns a hero

CEBU, Philippines - Tapales showed nerves of steel in recovering from two knockdowns in round five on the way to batter Sor Singyu into submission in the 11th round and in the process become the Philippines' fourth reigning world champion after Donnie "Ahas" Nietes (WBO light flyweight), Johnreil "Quadro Alas" Casimero (IBF) flyweight and Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. (WBO super bantamweight).

“It was one of the best fights I’ve ever seen in Thailand," noted WBO Vice President for Asia Pacific Leon Panoncilo in a report by veteran journalist Ronnie Nathanielsz posted on PhilBoxing.com.

The 24-yeard-old Tapales got a second wind after coming out trouble in round five, seizing control of the match with his relentless aggression that baffled Sor Singyu from round six onwards.

Sensing that his opponent already ran out of gas with a bloodied mouth as he heads into his corner at the end of the 10th frame, Tapales, brimming with confidence, went for the kill in round 11 with a vicious left-right combo capped by a crushing left straight that sent the fagged out Thai down at the seat of his pants for good with 30 seconds into the penultimate round.

“It seemed that either exhaustion or an accumulation of punches had taken their toll on Pungluang who simply had nothing left. For Tapales it represented a stunning comeback and the defining moment of a professional career which up until this point had been lacking only a world title,” remarked James Goyder of boxingscene.com

With the WBO belt strapped around his waist, Tapales arrived back home yesterday afternoon in Manila together with his mother Maria and his trainers Fernando Ocon, Brix Flores and Tito Abella. They immediately took a connecting flight to Cebu in time for a well-deserved victory dinner at the RWS Stable.

Tapales' manager Rex 'Wakee' Salud and his wife Elvira headed to Singapore from Bangkok for a brief vacation and are expected to return to Cebu on August 2 yet.

"First of all I would like to thank the Lord for lifting me up when I was down during that fight. I would also like to thank my trainers who assisted me especially during my troublesome moments, and above all to my manager, Sir Wakee Salud, because if not for him, I wouldn't be what I am today," said Tapales in vernacular during a brief chat while he was still in Bangkok airport awaiting their flight for Manila. "I don't know yet what's up for me next. It will all depend on my manager."

Still on a high from his world title glory, Tapales and his mother will leave for their hometown in Lala, Lanao del Norte today where another hero's welcome most probably awaits the newest toast of Philipping boxing.— with report from Dong Secuya of Philboxing.com (FREEMAN)