Tapales leaves for Japan tiff

Marlon Tapales won’t wait for Shohei Omori to come to him when they tangle anew on April 23 at Edion Arena in Osaka.

The Filipino WBO bantamweight champion intends to bring the fight to the Japanese from the opening bell of their 12-round tussle.

“Last time we met, he was aggressive from the start but when he felt my power, he ran,” Tapales told Pacland’s Dong Secuya Saturday. “This time, I’m determined to put the pressure on him.”

The 25-year-old Tapales, who’s still nine pounds over the 118-pound limit, left early Monday with manager Rex “Wakee” Salud, trainers Fernando Ocon and Brix Flores, and boxer John Neil Tabano, who’ll take on Teiru Atsumi in the undercard. —ROY LUARCA