Gab names Tapales year’s best boxer

Marlon Nightmare Tapales (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

DAVAO CITY—Marlon Tapales may have lost his belt but the southpaw from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, still earned the acclaim that he truly deserves.

The former WBO bantamweight world champion claimed the “Boxer of the Year” award with three other Filipino professional fighters during the Philippine Boxing Convention hosted by the Games and Amusements Board on Thursday.

Tapales was stripped of the championship belt prior to his scheduled title defense against Shohei Omori of Japan on April 23 in Osaka after failing to meet the 118-pound limit.

Despite giving up the title, he managed to salvage his pride by knocking out Omori in the 11th round.

Sharing the accolade with Tapales were world champion Jerwin Ancajas, lady boxer Gretchen Abaniel and former IBF flyweight titleholder Johnriel Casimero.