Tapales targets Cambodia return

Cambodia is rolling out the red carpet for former unified world super-bantamweight king Marlon Tapales, who could find himself displaying his wares again in Phnom Penh sometime in February 2025.

Tapales’ chief handler and promoter JC Mananquil told DAILY TRIBUNE that the Cambodians are more than interested in importing the Filipino southpaw again.

A few months ago, Tapales headlined a big card in the Cambodian capital and Mananquil said more events are lined up in the coming year.

Tapales, who packs a 39-4 win-loss card with 20 knockouts, lost in a bid to become undisputed 122-lb king last year when he was stopped by pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue in Tokyo.

Tapales, 32, is ranked highly in the world and is going to be one of the contenders for one of the titles that will be vacated by Inoue.

As he braces for a key run in the coming year, Tapales is making sure he stays active.

Currently, Tapales is ranked second by the World Boxing Council, fifth by the World Boxing Association and third by the International Boxing Federation, making him a prime candidate for a world title the moment Inoue leaves for the featherweight ranks.

“I have to stay busy so I can keep my world rating intact,” Tapales, 32, said.