The two Filipino fighters who secured world title bids in April have already set up camp at a one-stop shop American boxing man Sean Gibbons put up in Las Vegas.
Former world champion Marlon Tapales and rising contender Jade Bornea were the first to test the facilities at the makeshift gym found within the confines of a house they’re staying in.
Joining them there are their trainers Sugar ‘Ting’ Ariosa and Ernel Fontanilla, who drove to Sin City from Las Vegas a few days ago for the most crucial phase of the preparations.
Tapales guns for the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation super-bantamweight king Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan.
The exact date hasn’t been picked but 8 April will most likely be it.
Bornea is also on the cusp of a world title being mandatory for Fernando Martinez of Argentina.
Martinez beat Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF super-fly belt in February 2022 and repeated over the Filipino southpaw in October.
“They’ll be fighting a week or two apart from each other,” Gibbons told Daily Tribune yesterday from Las Vegas, sounding upbeat that Philippine boxing is once again in line for cracks at titles.
“In the first five months of 2023, at least five Filipinos are fighting for (world) titles,” an excited Gibbons reported.
Also waiting in the wings are Rene Mark Cuarto, Mark Magsayo, Vincent Astrolabio, and Reymart Gaballo, all have solid ties with MP Promotions, the outfit owned by eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao, who himself could end up returning to the ring this year.
“Things are looking up,” added Gibbons, who also runs the affairs of Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, prospect Jammes Carl Martin and the comebacking Ancajas.
Gibbons is expecting Ancajas to show up in Las Vegas soon so they could all train alongside each other.
