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How Tapales overcame knockdowns to beat Thai boxer

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/7/28/marlon-tapales-072816.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Marlon Tapales shows off his title, while his mother poses with him.</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- Marlon Tapales suffered two knockdowns from Pungluang Sor Singyu before completing a dramatic comeback by knocking out the Thai to win the WBO bantamweight crown.Tapales, who has already returned home after beating Sor Singyu in Ayyuthaya, Thailand, said he counted on his fighting spirit to gut out the knockout win.“Tinamaan ako ng straight dito sa tiyan ko kaya ayun bumagsak ako,” the new world boxing champion recalled.Sor Singyu dropped the Filipino twice in the fifth round with a series of body shots. Fortunately, Tapales managed to hold on and survive the round.“Iba tayong mga Pilipino, may fighting spirit talaga,” he said.It was at that point when his mother rushed to his corner to pray over Tapales. The Filipino seemed energized by the gesture and knocked down Sor Singyu in the following round.The end came in the 11th round when the Filipino tagged Sor Singyu with a huge right to head. Tapales followed it up with a couple of body shots before unleashing a left straight that sent the Thai rolling onto the canvass.Tapales said part of their strategy is to cut the fight short since it was being staged in Sor Singyu’s turf.“Nasa isip ko na talaga &#x27;yun na dapat hindi na aabot ng Round 12,” he said.Tapales, now the WBO bantamweight champion, improved to 29-2-0.Philboxing’s Dong Secuya reported that Sor Singyu sustained a broken jaw and was taken to the hospital after the bout.Prior to his fight against Tapales, Sor Singyu was regarded as a Filipino executioner, having beaten 21 Pinoys in his career, including ALA fighter AJ Banal.But Tapales said he knew he could beat the Thai veteran after witnessing how Sor Singyu beat Banal in 2012.“&#x27;Yung nakita ko &#x27;yung laban nila ni Banal, talagang sabi ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko talaga,” he said. – With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN NewsFor more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

Marlon Tapales suffered two knockdowns from Pungluang Sor Singyu before completing a dramatic comeback by knocking out the Thai to win the WBO bantamweight crown.