Tapales receives expert advice

There's one guy at Marlon Tapales' training camp who knows Murodjon Akhmadaliev like the palm of his hand.

Jade Bornea, who fought Akhamadaliev twice in the amateurs, told Daily Tribune that he has been constantly sharing tips on how to deal with the Uzbekistan puncher.

Tapales is gunning for Akhmadaliev's World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight crowns on 8 April at the Boeing Tech Center in San Antonio, Texas.

Bornea and Tapales are housemates in Las Vegas where they have been training for major fights down the road.

While Akhmadaliev has vastly improved through the years, Bornea insists Tapales has the advantage.

"In terms of experience and power, Marlon has the edge," Bornea, nicknamed "Hurricane," said.

Bornea lost on points to Akhamaliev the first time in the 2012 World Youth in Yerevan, Armenia but got his revenge with a third-round RSC (referee-stops-contest) during the Asian Youth slugfest held at Subic Bay the following year.

"Akhmadaliev has changed and is now a better fighter but he is the same, aggressive," Bornea, now a prime candidate for a world title shot, said from Sin City.

Akhamadaliev, a southpaw like Tapales, did blossom into a fine fighter after his run-in with Bornea and went on to capture bronze medal in the Rio Olympics and a silver in the 2015 world championships in Doha.

In the pros, Akhmadaliev has logged a perfect 11-0 record with eight knockouts.

Tapales, a former world champion, packs a 36-3 with 19 knockouts.