Naoya Inoue v Marlon Tapales

[Master]

Japan's Naoya Inoue will bid to become a two-weight undisputed champion when he takes on IBF and WBA super-bantamweight title holder Marlon Tapales in Tokyo on 26 December.

Inoue became undisputed bantamweight world champion last year but vacated the belts to move up a division.

The 30-year-old beat Stephen Fulton to unify the WBC and WBO titles in July and can claim all four belts with victory over Filipino Tapales.

"I want to knock him out," said Inoue.

"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."

Inoue, who has already won world titles at super-flyweight and light-flyweight, is unbeaten in 25 professional fights with 22 knockouts.

Nicknamed the 'Monster' for his ferocious power and ability to knock out opponents, Inoue became the first undisputed bantamweight world champion since Panama's Enrique Pinder in 1972 when he stopped England's Paul Butler in December 2022.

After his victory over Fulton in July, Tapales entered the ring and shook hands with Inoue, with the pair promising to fight for all four belts "this year".

Tapales, 31, beat Uzbekistan's Murodjon Akhmadaliev by split decision in April to win the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/67213883

[TIC]

naoya gets fighter of the year

[TitoFan]

Yep. Kudos to Tapales for taking this fight. I don't see any other choice for Fighter of the Year. I like Crawford and all that. But it's Inoue who deserves it.

[Spicoli]

Other than waking up at some god-awful AM to catch it, absolutely awesome. Inoue will have fully unified two divisions is the span of a years time! I also love how he's completely blowing it up and also getting all top challengers and champs to travel for him right into the interesting huge mecca and atmosphere that is boxing in Japan. Love me some Bud but it's Inoue all day p4p for me. Tapales will need all stars aligned, a baseball bat and a few words with the man upstairs to hang into deep rounds but feel confident in saying he won't come to just fall over.

[TIC]

Yep. Kudos to Tapales for taking this fight.

marlon could have easily milked those belts. we need more of fighters wanting to challenge themselves against the best

[Spicoli]

Worst news of the day the fight is cancelled. Inoue has suffered a fractured rib and sounds like they are scraping entire card. Hope they can get this rescheduled.

[TIC]

Worst news of the day the fight is cancelled. Inoue has suffered a fractured rib and sounds like they are scraping entire card. Hope they can get this rescheduled.

that's naoya's brother, unless naoya just got injured as well

[Spicoli]

Worst news of the day the fight is cancelled. Inoue has suffered a fractured rib and sounds like they are scraping entire card. Hope they can get this rescheduled.

that's naoya's brother, unless naoya just got injured as well

well the day just got even better .

[Master]

Sky Sports will also broadcast Naoya Inoue's undisputed super-bantamweight battle with Marlon Tapales on December 26.

[Beanz]

Sky Sports will also broadcast Naoya Inoue's undisputed super-bantamweight battle with Marlon Tapales on December 26.

Lovely boxing day morning treat.

[Hilmen]

"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it."

[TIC]

[TIC]

there is talk of the monster v luis nery in may

[TIC]

[Ron Swanson]

In a few hours Monster will most likely become the third man to stop Tapales. To sleep tonight or no, that is the question