TOKYO: Filipino Marlon Tapales has been stripped of his World Boxing Organization bantamweight title after failing to make the weight limit for Sunday's title defence against Japan's Shohei Omori in Osaka.
Tapales, 25, weighed in 0.8kg over the 53.5-kilogramme (118lb) limit and was slightly heavier on his second permitted attempt to make the weight on Saturday.
The fight will still go ahead at Osaka's Edion Arena on Sunday night with Omori, 24, able to lift the vacant WBO bantamweight belt if he beats the overweight Tapales (29-2, 12 KOs). Should Tapales win the title will remain vacant.
"To be honest, I was ticked off," said the 24-year-old Omori (18-1, 13 KOs), in comments reported by Sankei Sports. "I am not angry, but disappointed."
On the same bill Japan's Kazuto Ioka (21-1, 13 Kos ) will defend his World Boxing Association flyweight title against Thailand's Noknoi Sitthiprasert (62-4, 38 KOs). - AFP