By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Leon Panoncillo, the WBO vice president for the Asia-Pacific region and official supervisor for the bantamweight world title defense of champion Pungluang Sor Singyu, says mandatory challenger Marlon Tapales will have to be “in top form” in his title showdown in the historic city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya some 85 kilometers north of Bangkok on Wednesday.

Panoncillo who was also fight supervisor when Tapales beat Japan’s unbeaten prospect Shohei Omori who had a record of 15-0 with 10 knockouts last December 16 in Kyoto told The Standard “Marlon destroyed the Japanese fighter and really looked good but when he fought in Las Vegas on May 6, 2011 against Alejandro Solorio and won a majority decision over six rounds on the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley undercard “he didn’t look good at all.”

Panoncillo who also was the fight supervisor when Pungluang won the vacant title with a stunning 9th round TKO over AJ “Bazooka” Banal at the Mall of Asia Arena on October 20, 2012.

The WBO fight supervisor told us “ I hope Marlon has been training because Pungluang is a tough nut to crack” pointing out that from his experience watching Tapales fight, “he is hot and cold. He has to be at his best against Pungluang because when a Filipino comes to fight here in Thailand its tough because the Thais fight for their country. Marlon must be hot to win here in Thailand.”

He recalled that Japan’s fancied Ryo Akaho (27-1-2 with 18 knockouts ) who fought Pungluang for the world title on August 7, 2015 was considered “a hard-hitting fighter but after two rounds he folded up completely.”

Panoncillo said “I hope Marlon puts on  his “A” game because Pungluang is very durable and has a good right straight. I hope it will be a good fight.”

When informed by philboxing.com’s Dong Secuya that Pungluang had beaten all 20 of the Filipino fighters he had faced over the years Tapales exclaimed “that’s what I like. I want that. The greater the challenge the more motivated I am.”

ALA Promotions headed by its president Michael Aldeguer is keen on signing up the Wakee Salud fighter - win or lose - to show how much they believe in his talent.