In a highly anticipated clash, Naoya “Monster” Inoue and Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales are set to face off on Tuesday Boxing Day for an electrifying showdown. The bout will be held at the Ariake Arena Kot-ku, Tokyo, Japan, with both fighters contending for multiple titles.
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Inoue, holding the WBC/WBO junior featherweight titles, aims to further solidify his legacy by challenging Tapales for his WBA/IBF junior featherweight titles. A victory for Inoue, who currently boasts an impressive record of 25 wins, no losses, and 22 knockouts, would mark his ascent to a two-weight undisputed champion. Notably, he claimed all the bantamweight belts in a spectacular win against England’s Paul Butler, securing the WBO championship in the 11th round last December.
Hailing from Kanagawa, Japan, the 30-year-old Inoue has established an illustrious career, triumphing across multiple weight divisions, including light flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight, and now super bantamweight (junior featherweight). His exceptional knockout percentage of 88% speaks volumes about his prowess in the ring, prompting questions about whether his knockout power will persist as he ascends through the divisions.
In this highly anticipated matchup, Inoue squares off against Tapales, a skilled southpaw who holds the WBA and IBF titles. Tapales, a 31-year-old Filipino with a record of 37 wins, 3 losses, and 19 knockouts, is no stranger to the junior featherweight division, having acclimated to this weight class for over five years. His recent victory against Murodjon Akhmaaliev demonstrates his readiness to face formidable opponents.
Despite Tapales’ proficiency and comfort in the junior featherweight category, Inoue emerges as the favored contender in the betting odds. Most experts predict another impressive performance from Inoue, foreseeing a potential inside-the-distance victory for the Japanese fighter against the skilled but challenging southpaw Tapales.