Taming the Monster Marlon Tapales' Challenge
Japanese boxing sensation Naoya Inoue, known as the "Monster," is set to pursue a second undisputed world championship, this time in the superbantamweight division. In an exciting showdown scheduled for December, Inoue will face off against Marlon Tapales, with all four superbantamweight belts up for grabs. In 2022, Inoue achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first undisputed bantamweight world champion in over 50 years. However, he vacated his bantamweight titles to make the move up to the superbantamweight division. In his debut at this new weight class, he secured the WBC and WBO titles with a victory over American fighter Stephen Fulton in July. Now, on December 26 in Tokyo, Inoue aims to complete the set by challenging Marlon Tapales, the IBF and WBA superbantamweight champion from the Philippines. Inoue, the undefeated 30-year-old boxer with an impressive record of 25 wins, including 22 knockouts, is determined to demonstrate his formidable power and emerge victorious in this pivotal match. Inoue shared his ambitions, saying, "I want to show my overwhelming power and win, even in a fight like this where becoming undisputed champion in a second division is on the line." He added his intent to secure a knockout victory. Marlon Tapales, aged 31, boasts a record of 37 wins, with 19 of them coming by knockout. In April, he pulled off an upset victory against Uzbekistan's Murodjon Akhmadaliev, claiming the IBF and WBA titles via a split decision. Inoue respects his upcoming opponent, acknowledging Tapales as a tough fighter with solid defensive skills and impressive technique. Notably, Inoue's victory over England's Paul Butler in December of the previous year made him the first undisputed bantamweight world champion since Panama's Enrique Pinder in 1972. He also became only the ninth undisputed world champion since the era of four-belt titles commenced in 2004. Terence Crawford of the United States recently became the first fighter to hold all the belts in two weight divisions when he clinched the undisputed welterweight world title in July. Inoue now has a unique opportunity to match this achievement just one year after his remarkable run through the bantamweight division. Reflecting on his journey, Inoue expressed his satisfaction, "It took me over four years to win all the bantamweight belts, but it looks like I can win all the superbantamweight titles within 2023. I'm really glad that I've been able to quickly make up for the time I lost to the coronavirus pandemic." The upcoming fight between Inoue and Tapales promises to be a monumental event in the world of boxing, and fans can eagerly anticipate the clash between these two exceptional fighters.
