The Japanese boxing sensation, Naoya “Monster” Inoue, is all set to stretch his extraordinary record across another weight division. Brace yourself as he clashes with Marlon Tapales, the WBA/IBF titan, in what promises to be a gripping undisputed junior featherweight fight at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena this December 26. Inoue, having conquered four world titles in different divisions, aims to become the second boxer to clinch the four-belt undisputed title in two separate divisions.
For all the boxing fans in the U.S., this electrifying Inoue-Tapales bout and its accompanying undercard fights will be streaming live on ESPN+ – set your alarms for an early-morning treat!
Top Rank chairman, Bob Arum, is all praises for Inoue: “Every time Naoya Inoue steps into the ring, it’s a masterclass. Truly, he’s one of the boxing greats in his prime,” says Arum. “But come December 26, he’s up against the might of Marlon Tapales, the formidable Filipino champ. Nevertheless, I’m betting on ‘The Monster’ to pull off another memorable win.”
Inoue’s (25-0, 22 KOs) incredible journey boasts a 20-0 streak with 18 knockouts in title bouts, starting with his win over Adrian Hernandez in 2014. After that, he jumped up two divisions, sent the WBO junior bantamweight champ, Omar Narvaez, packing, and held onto his title seven times. At bantamweight, Inoue made history by becoming the first boxer to unify all the belts. Over three years, he took down big names like Emmanuel Rodriguez, Nonito Donaire (twice!), and Paul Butler. After his impressive victory against Stephen Fulton in July, Inoue is now eyeing to reign supreme at 122 pounds.
On the other side, Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) brings years of experience to the table. Having kickstarted his career in 2008, he’s had his fair share of ups and downs. After a few early hiccups in the Philippines, Tapales emerged as a force to reckon with, following his win over the then-unbeaten Shohei Omori in December 2015. He then clinched the WBO bantamweight title against Panya Uthok and, after a successful rematch against Omori in 2018, stepped into the junior featherweight division. Despite a slip-up against Ryosuke Iwasa in December 2019, Tapales bounced back with a game-changing win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev this April.