TAPALES’ TALL TASK

YOKOHAMA, Japan — With the music of Freddie Mercury's "I Want To Break Free" blaring from the Bluetooth speakers, Marlon Tapales and head trainer Ernel Fontanilla worked the mitts on Saturday afternoon just a few days before the Filipino southpaws' all-important super-bantamweight showdown with Naoya Inoue on Tuesday in neighboring Tokyo.

It was obvious all the hard work had already been done during the camps in Las Vegas and Baguio City in the Philippines and the training being undertaken is merely meant to keep Tapales in synch for the scheduled 12-rounder at the Ariake Arena.

And that's exactly what Tapales looked like three days before the battle for Inoue's World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization straps and Tapales' World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation belts.

Plans to even hold the training session in a gym located within the Yokohama Bay Sheraton and Towers had to be scuttled by the team at the last minute.

Originally, there was the suggestion to train outside but the wintry weather torpedoed that as well.

During this particular session, the mercury dropped to seven degrees Celsius.

Instead, everyone was on the same page that it would be perfect if they all did all the work inside the fighter's suite on the 24th floor where head coach Ernel Fontanilla presided over the proceedings and the support cast in the background, observing in silence.

As the preparations enter the twilight, focus has shifted to making the 122-lb limit as the official weigh-in happens on the eve of the fight.

Just before Tapales did a light workout, he was about three pounds over, something that is within the boundaries.

In fact, Tapales was still sipping water occasionally.

What happened Saturday is likely going to be reenacted Sunday afternoon after Tapales attends a press conference. Inoue will also be in attendance.

Then on Monday, Tapales and Inoue will face off again during the weigh-in where they are both expected to conquer the scales.

Meanwhile, the supporters of Tapales have started to come in droves from the United States and the Philippines.

The early birds include Mike Pelayo, a confidante of Tapales' promoter JC Mananquil.

Pelayo is spearheading a Christmas Eve treat for the entire team.

"We are doing an exchange gift and holding some fun games involving team members and supporters as we celebrate Christmas away from our loved ones," Pelayo said.

Aside from Mananquil's entourage, also here is MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons and his wife Valerie and sons Brendan and Parker.

A group of Filipino scribes flying in from Manila was also expected to touch down to join the first writer who came a day earlier, proof that the fast-approaching fight is a major event.

But what's going to be an even more memorable Christmas gift would be a Tapales victory that would make him the first Filipino undisputed world champion.