Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Marlon Tapales | DAZN - April 8, 2023

[Ruthless-RKO]

Murodjon Akhmadaliev set to face Marlon Tapales, sources say

Murodjon Akhmadaliev will defend his two 122-pound titles against Marlon Tapales after the sides struck a deal, sources told ESPN.

The unified junior featherweight championship bout is slated to take place in early spring, likely outside the U.S., sources said.

Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) has made three defenses of the IBF and WBA titles he won from Danny Roman in 2020. The 28-year-old sustained a broken left hand in his last bout, a 12th-round TKO of Ronny Rios in June.

The Olympic bronze medalist from Uzbekistan has competed in all but one of his pro fights in the U.S. (Akhmadaliev returned home for a fifth-round TKO of Ryosuke Iwasa in 2021.)

Akhmadaliev, 28, is ESPN's No. 2 boxer at 122 pounds after Stephen Fulton, who also holds two belts. However, Fulton is expected to move up to 126 pounds for his next bout while undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue will campaign at 122 going forward.

Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) is a former 118-pound titleholder from the Philippines. The 30-year-old has scored three straight victories since he suffered an 11th-round TKO loss to Iwasa.

Tapales has won three straight fights since, all by stoppage.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Rhis should be a banger!

[giacomino]

Tapales got KO'd three years ago by the guy Akhmadaliev easily KO'd in his first defense, so he should be able to handle this one

[Manrae]

Should be fun while it lasts...

[Rgoodwin]

Tapales got KO'd three years ago by the guy Akhmadaliev easily KO'd in his first defense, so he should be able to handle this one

Easily KO'd? That was a completely unnecessary stoppage

[Ruthless-RKO]

Murodjon Akhmadaliev Files Medical Exception, Mandatory Title Fight With Marlon Tapales On Hold

Marlon Tapales has waited literally all year for his mandatory title shot.

For now, he will have to wait until the end of the year before receiving confirmation on what that opportunity will materialize.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that unified WBA/IBF junior featherweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev has filed a medical exception as the deadline approached for his enforced mandatory title defense against The Philippines’ Tapales. The two sides were ordered to negotiate and reach a deal by October 25, at which time a purse bid hearing would be called.

That process is now delayed in light of the IBF accepting Akhmadaliev’s exception request.

According to IBF Rule 5.d.3 covering injuries during an ordered title fight period, iIf a Champion is justifiably disabled 60 days or less before his mandatory due date, or continues to remain disabled from a disability incurred earlier, and such disability has been proven to and accepted by a physician approved by the President of the IBF/USBA who has certified that said disability will continue more than sixty (60) days beyond the mandatory due date, the Champion may be granted a medical extension not to exceed said sixty (60) days beyond the mandatory due date.”

Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs)—who is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing—suffered a broken left hand during his twelfth-round stoppage of Ronny Rios on June 25 in San Antonio, Texas. The bout was one of two WBA mandatory defenses in waiting for the unbeaten Uzbek, with Azat Hovhannisyan also waiting in the wings. However, the healing process has not advanced rapidly enough for Akhmadaliev to return to the ring as soon as he—or Tapales and his team—preferred.

BS.com has learned that Tapales’ team—a massive group consisting of MP Promotions, Sanman Boxing, Shapiro Sports, and Viva Promotions—will lobby for the IBF to approve an interim title fight, in lieu of spending any more time than necessary on the shelf.

The fight was initially ordered on January 4, with the two sides given until February 2 to reach a deal. That order was rescinded, once it was realized that the WBA was still first in the rotation of mandatory title defenses. Tapales’ side argued at the time that Rios lost his place in line after testing positive for Covid ahead of his originally scheduled fight with Akhmadaliev last November 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The WBA eventually got its way, with Rios granted a rescheduled opportunity to face Akhmadaliev.

Akhmadaliev’s prior IBF mandatory title defense was honored last April 3, when he scored a fifth-round knockout of IBF mandatory challenger Ryosuke Iwasa in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The bout was his first in his home country since an amateur tournament in 2017, one year after claiming a Bronze medal for Uzbekistan in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Tapales, a 30-year-old southpaw from Kapatagan, Philippines, punched his way back into title contention following a second-round knockout of Hiroaki Teshigawara. The bout served as a title eliminator at the request of Tapales’ team. Tapales rose to the occasion, flooring Teshigawara three times in just 3:06 worth of ring action in forcing the stoppage in their December 11 clash.

It was a far more memorable ending than his previous title eliminator, two years almost to the day of his win over Teshigawara.

Tapales suffered an eleventh-round stoppage to Iwasa in their December 2019 eliminator in Brooklyn, New York, which ended a twelve-fight win streak. He has since won three straight heading into his first career title fight, including a second-round knockout of Jose Estrella in a stay-busy affair on May 14 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Per IBF purse bid rules, neither fighter is permitted to enter an agreement for another bout during the period for the ordered title fight. This prevents Akhmadaliev from pursuing bigger fights, even with the medical exception.

There has been demand for an undisputed showdown with WBC/WBO junior featherweight titlist Stephen Fulton (20-0, 8 KOs). Such a fight was never formally discussed by either side, however, other than being casually mentioned by Fulton as a desired—though largely unrealistic—option for his next fight. It is more likely that Fulton can land a superfight with three-division titlist and current lineal/WBC/WBA/IBF bantamweight champ Naoya Inoue, who plans to move up to 122 following his undisputed showdown with WBO titlist Paul Butler on December 13 in Tokyo.

As for Akhmadaliev, his road to recovery still leads to an overdue title defense against Tapales.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tapales shOuld have had a plan B

[Ruthless-RKO]

Why didn't Cordina go down this route?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Akhmadaliev-Tapales: IBF Title Fight Re-Ordered, Team Tapales Requests Immediate Purse Bid

Marlon Tapales is done waiting for his overdue title shot.

The IBF mandatory title fight between the Philippines’ Tapales and unbeaten WBA/IBF junior featherweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev will now head straight to a purse bid in lieu of a second 30-day negotiation period. The fight was re-ordered by the IBF on December 4, met by a demand by Tapales’ team for the sanctioning body to call an immediate purse bid.

The session will take place on December 20 at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey, open to all IBF-registered promoters. The minimum accepted bid is $200,000, with Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8KOs) due 65 percent of the winning amount as the reigning champ.

Akhmadaliev was initially ordered to enter talks with Tapales (36-3, 19KOs) on January 4, with the two sides given until February 2 to reach a deal. That order was rescinded, once it was realized the WBA was still first in the rotation of mandatory title defenses.

Tapales’ side argued at the time that Rios lost his place in line after testing positive for Covid ahead of his originally scheduled fight with Akhmadaliev last November 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The WBA eventually got its way, with Akhmadaliev facing and defeating Rios in a twelfth-round stoppage on June 25 in San Antonio, Texas.

The win came at a cost, with Akhmadaliev suffering a broken left hand. His team—Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing—used the injury to their advantage once the IBF put its mandatory title fight back in play in September. The 30-day period met not with a deal in place but with Akhmadaliev filing a medical exception right at the October 25 deadline.

It bought another five weeks for the unbeaten Uzbek before the fight was ordered earlier this month for a third time. Tapales’ team—a massive group consisting of MP Promotions, Sanman Boxing, Shapiro Sports, and Viva Promotions—wasn’t interested in waiting any longer than necessary, contacting the IBF to bypass the negotiation period and call for a purse bid, which either side is permitted to do at any time.

Akhmadaliev’s prior IBF mandatory title defense was honored last April 3, when he scored a fifth-round knockout of IBF mandatory challenger Ryosuke Iwasa in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The bout was his first in his home country since an amateur tournament in 2017, one year after claiming a Bronze medal for Uzbekistan in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Tapales, a 30-year-old southpaw from Kapatagan, Philippines, punched his way back into title contention following a second-round knockout of Hiroaki Teshigawara. The bout served as a title eliminator at the request of Tapales’ team. Tapales rose to the occasion, flooring Teshigawara three times in just 3:06 worth of ring action in forcing the stoppage in their December 11 clash.

It was a far more memorable ending than his previous title eliminator, two years almost to the day of his win over Teshigawara.

Tapales suffered an eleventh-round stoppage to Iwasa in their December 2019 eliminator in Brooklyn, New York, which ended a twelve-fight win streak. He has since won three straight heading into his first career title fight, including a second-round knockout of Jose Estrella in a stay-busy affair on May 14 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Per IBF purse bid rules, neither fighter is permitted to enter an agreement for another bout during the period for the ordered title fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

IBF Delays Purse Bid, Grants Two-Week Extension For Ordered Title Fight

Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Marlon Tapales are back at the negotiating table.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that the IBF has postponed a previously scheduled purse bid hearing for the IBF ordered Akhmadaliev-Tapales mandatory junior featherweight title fight. The session was due to take place on Tuesday at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey but has been pushed back to January 3 at the request of both camps who now feel there is a chance to reach a deal.

The development comes after the Tapales side called for an immediate purse bid when the fight was first reordered earlier this month. Akhmadaliev—the unified WBA/IBF junior featherweight titlist—previously filed for and was granted a medical exception at the end of the prior negotiation period, stemming from an injury he sustained in a twelfth-round knockout win over Ronny Rios in his WBA mandatory on June 25 in San Antonio, Texas.

Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs)—a 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist for Uzbekistan who trains out of Indio, Caliofrnia—was initially ordered to enter talks with Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) on January 4. The two sides were given until February 2 to reach a deal. That order was rescinded, once it was realized the WBA was first in the rotation of mandatory title defenses.

Tapales’ side argued at the time that Rios lost his place in line after testing positive for Covid ahead of his originally scheduled fight with Akhmadaliev last November 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

The WBA eventually got its way, with Akhmadaliev facing and defeating Rios in a twelfth-round stoppage on June 25 in San Antonio, Texas.

The win came at a cost, with Akhmadaliev suffering a broken left hand. His team—Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing—used the injury to their advantage once the IBF put its mandatory title fight back in play in September. The 30-day period met not with a deal in place but with Akhmadaliev filing a medical exception right at the October 25 deadline.

It bought another five weeks for the unbeaten Uzbek before the fight was ordered earlier this month for a third time. Tapales’ team—a massive group consisting of MP Promotions, Sanman Boxing, Shapiro Sports, and Viva Promotions—wasn’t interested in waiting any longer than necessary, contacting the IBF to bypass the negotiation period and call for a purse bid, which either side is permitted to do at any time.

Akhmadaliev’s prior IBF mandatory title defense was honored last April 3, when he scored a fifth-round knockout of IBF mandatory challenger Ryosuke Iwasa in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The bout was his first in his home country since an amateur tournament in 2017, one year after claiming a Bronze medal for Uzbekistan in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Tapales, a 30-year-old southpaw from Kapatagan, Philippines, punched his way back into title contention following a second-round knockout of Hiroaki Teshigawara. The bout served as a title eliminator at the request of Tapales’ team. Tapales rose to the occasion, flooring Teshigawara three times in just 3:06 worth of ring action in forcing the stoppage in their December 11 clash.

It was a far more memorable ending than his previous title eliminator, two years almost to the day of his win over Teshigawara.

Tapales suffered an eleventh-round stoppage to Iwasa in their December 2019 eliminator in Brooklyn, New York, which ended a twelve-fight win streak. He has since won three straight heading into his first career title fight, including a second-round knockout of Jose Estrella in a stay-busy affair on May 14 at Dignity Health Sports Park.

Per IBF purse bid rules, neither fighter is permitted to enter an agreement for another bout during the period for the ordered title fight.

Should the extra two weeks still fail to produce a deal, the fight will head back to a purse bid hearing on January 3. The minimum accepted bid is $200,000, with Uzbekistan’s Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) due 65 percent of the winning amount as the reigning champ.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Deal Reached, Purse Bid Canceled For WBA/IBF Title Fight

The teams surrounding Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Marlon Tapales have made the most of the allotted extension to come to terms.

Boxing Scene has confirmed that a deal has been reached for the IBF-ordered Akhmadaliev-Tapales mandatory junior featherweight title fight. The agreement comes in time to cancel an already postponed purse bid hearing that was due to take place on Tuesday at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey.

The agreement came during the tail end of a two-week period following the postponement of the previously scheduled December 20 purse bid hearing. Oddly, the original session was requested by Tapales’ team immediately after the fight was reordered in early December. However, the army of representatives for the Filipino contender— MP Promotions, Sanman Boxing, Shapiro Sports, and Viva Promotions—collectively agreed to back off that hard stance once it was realized that Matchroom Boxing and World of Boxing—Akhmadaliev’s co-promoters—were eager to reach a deal.

Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs)—a 2016 Olympic Bronze medalist for Uzbekistan who trains out of Indio, Caliofrnia—was initially ordered to enter talks with Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) on January 4. The two sides were given until February 2 to reach a deal. That order was rescinded, once it was realized the WBA was first in the rotation of mandatory title defenses.

Per IBF purse bid rules, neither fighter is permitted to enter an agreement for another bout during the period for the ordered title fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Murodjon Akhmadaliev set to face Marlon Tapales, sources say

Murodjon Akhmadaliev will defend his two 122-pound titles against Marlon Tapales after the sides struck a deal, sources told ESPN.

The unified junior featherweight championship bout is slated to take place in early spring, likely outside the U.S., sources said.

Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) has made three defenses of the IBF and WBA titles he won from Danny Roman in 2020. The 28-year-old sustained a broken left hand in his last bout, a 12th-round TKO of Ronny Rios in June.

The Olympic bronze medalist from Uzbekistan has competed in all but one of his pro fights in the U.S. (Akhmadaliev returned home for a fifth-round TKO of Ryosuke Iwasa in 2021.)

Akhmadaliev, 28, is ESPN's No. 2 boxer at 122 pounds after Stephen Fulton, who also holds two belts. However, Fulton is expected to move up to 126 pounds for his next bout while undisputed bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue will campaign at 122 going forward.

Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) is a former 118-pound titleholder from the Philippines. The 30-year-old has scored three straight victories since he suffered an 11th-round TKO loss to Iwasa.

Tapales has won three straight fights since, all by stoppage.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Confirmed for Rodriguez cqee

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight confirmed.

Will be on the Bam Rodriguez card.

[Ruthless-RKO]

MARLON TAPALES AIMS FOR AN UPSET AGAINST MURODJON AKHMADALIEV ON APRIL 8

Murodjon Akhmadaliev will defend his unified world title belts against Marlon Tapales on April 8, Matchroom Boxing announced Wednesday afternoon.

The 12-round bout will take place at the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio, Texas and will precede the main event bout between Jesse Rodriguez and Crisitan Gonzalez, with the vacant IBF flyweight title on the line.

Both fights will stream live on DAZN (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT).

The fight between Akhmadaliev and Tapales is a clash of fighters ranked in the top 10 ranked by The Ring. Akhmadaliev and Tapales are ranked No. 2 and 5, respectively.

Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 knockouts), who is originally from Chust, Uzbekistan and now resides in Indio, California, last fought on June 25, also at the Tech Port Arena, stopping Ronny Rios in the 12th round. The win over Rios came over seven months after Akhmadaliev defeated late-sub Jose Velazquez by unanimous decision.

There was talk of Akhmadaliev fighting WBC and WBO world titleholder Stephen Fulton later this year, but Fulton is reportedly fighting Ring magazine Naoya Inoue in May or June.

The 28-year-old is still holding out hope he will become an undisputed champion at 122 pounds. In the meantime, he will face Tapales, who is the mandatory challenger to the IBF title.

“I’m happy to be back in the ring,” said Akhmadaliev, who is managed by Vadim Kornilov. “It’s been a while, but finally we’re here for an exciting match against a great fighter in Tapales. He’s a former champion, we have similar styles, so I am preparing for (a) tough action-packed fight on April 8. Thanks to Matchroom, World of Boxing, my team and all the support from boxing fans.”

Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs), who resides in Kapatagan in the Philippines, last fought on May 14, knocking out journeyman Jose Estrella in the second round. In December 2011, Tapales stopped Hiroaki Teshigawara in the second round.

The 30-year-old has won his last three fights, all by knockout, since a knockout loss to Ryosuke Iwasa in December 2019. Despite the setback against Iwasa, Tapales is confident he can upend Akhmadaliev.

“I am very excited again for this opportunity to fight for not one but two world titles,” said Tapales, who is represented by Sean Gibbons and Shane Shapiro. “I would like to thank my team, including TGB Promotions, for getting this opportunity. I will bring pride and glory to the Philippines when I win both the IBF and WBA belts.”

Also on the Matchroom Boxing card, unbeaten Raymond Ford of Camden, New Jersey will face former world junior featherweight titleholder Jessie Magdaleno in a 10-round bout.

Ford (13-0-1, 7 KOs) notched a highlight-reel knockout win in his last fight on November 12, knocking out Sakaria Lukas in the eighth round. The 23-year-old also fought on the June 25 card, defeating Richard Medina by unanimous decision in a clash of unbeaten prospects.

Magdaleno (29-1, 18 KOs) last fought in his hometown of Las Vegas on May 21, defeating Eddy Valencia Mercado by unanimous decision. The win over Valencia was his last fight under the Top Rank banner. Magdaleno has won his last four bouts since his knockout loss to Isaac Dogboe in April 2018.

In the opening bout of the DAZN stream, junior lightweight Thomas Mattice (20-3-1, 15 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, who recently signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing and defeated Christian Tapia in his last bout on November 12, will square off against Mexico’s Ramiro Cesena (16-0-1, 13 KOs) in a 10-round bout.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Week!!

[margaret thatcher]

murod a fun fighter

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fight Night!

[Sweet Dick Willie]

I don't think I've ever seen Tapales fight, but this one should be a great one. Akhmadaliev one of the most skilful and exciting boxers of this time. He does need a new nickname though. I mean "MJ", come on!

I was hoping Madrimov would face someone of a bit higher level now.

[handsofstone]

Love me a bit of Akhmadaliev, definitely a fav, you know him and Fulton would be bang up for an undisputed fight or even Inoue

[handsofstone]

Agreed with the 115-113 Tapales cards, wtf was that 118-110 Akhmadaliev score all about? Disgusting, it landed up a close fight as Akhmadaliev closed the gap but he just wasn't at the races last night, I'm sure he must've came in with an injured left hand he barely threw it and when he did there was no purchase on it, he started letting it go more down the stretch but he relied mostly on the lead right hook

Tapales was quicker out the traps, was hitting Akhmadaliev hard and clean with left uppercuts in the 2nd, made better use of the jab and southpaw left hand, Akhmadaliev just couldn't get to grips of the fight , Tapales was nailing him time and again, credit to Akhmadaliev he obviously knew his titles were slipping away and finished strong, finally started taking chances with his left hand and backing Tapales up, too little too late though and Tapales the rightful winner imo, that other card though

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn had it 115-113..

Said the crowd wasn’t happy.

Rematch?

[handsofstone]

Hearn had it 115-113..

Said the crowd wasn’t happy.

Rematch?

If Hearn has it a draw or 115-113 to his man, he almost certainly had him losing

[Ruthless-RKO]

Confirmed broken jaw.

Will need surgery