In a much-anticipated showdown for the unified super-bantamweight titles, Filipino Marlon Tapales gears up for a tough encounter against formidable Japanese Naoya “Monster” Inoue on Tuesday at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
The 12-round bout promises to be a clash of titans, with Inoue, hailed as one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighters, defending his World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) belts.
Tapales, a force in his own right, enters the ring with an impressive portfolio, proudly holding the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles. His mission is clear—to etch his name in history as the first undisputed champion from the Philippines.
“I came here to win,” asserted Tapales, fully aware of his underdog status against the undefeated Inoue, who boasts of a daunting record of 22 knockout victories in 25 bouts.
Undeterred by the odds, Tapales is poised to command respect from his opponent right from the start, emphasizin an offensive strategy.
“If I concentrate too much on defense and fight defensively, there’s no way I will win the fight,” Tapales said.
His confidence is grounded in a unique fighting style and knockout power, supported by extensive Las Vegas and Baguio training and undisclosed strategies tailored for this pivotal showdown.
Boasting of 37 victories in 40 fights, including an impressive 19 knockouts, Tapales is indeed a force to be reckoned with.
Notably, he clinched the WBO bantamweight world title in 2016, overcoming adversity with only three losses, one of which came against Ryosuke Iwasa in 2019.
Undeterred, Tapales rebounded, securing victories in his last four fights, culminating in a triumphant win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev in April to claim the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight titles.
Fueled by a desire for respect, Tapales vowed to let his fist fly early in the bout.“If I have a chance to knock him out, I will grab it.”
In a significant move, Inoue ventured into the super-bantamweight division for the first time in July, delivering a stunning eighth-round stoppage win against Stephen Fulton to claim the unified WBO and WBC titles.