Promising super flyweight Marlon Tapales won a six round majority decision over a game Alejandro Solorio but fancied former world title challenger Bernabe Concepcion dropped a split decision to Juan Carlos Martinez at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino, Saturday.

With the win the 18 year old Tapales, a protégé of Manny Pacquiao’s friend and confidant Rex “Wakee” Salud improved to 17-1 with 5 knockouts while Solorio fell to 4-5 with 3 knockouts.

Tapales took command in the opening round but Solorio came back to score effectively in rounds two and three.

The fight was an exciting round as both Tapales and Solorio suffered knockdowns in a wild exchange and although Solorio kept pressing the action in round six he visibly tired enabling the young Filipino to turn the tide for the win.

Two of the three judges had Tapales the winner, one by a shutout 60-54 while the other had the Filipino comfortably ahead 59-55 while the third judge scored it a draw at 57-57.

In the co-main event Bernabe Concepcion who was ranked No. 8 featherweight by the prestigious Ring Magazine put on a disappointing performance against journeyman Juan Carlos Martinez losing an eight round split decision although the judges scorecards hardly reflected the superiority of Martinez who improved his record to 19-12-1 with 7 knockouts while Concepcion dropped to 28-5-1 with 15 knockouts.

By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com