In a press conference held the day after Naoya Inoue’s match against Stephen Fulton (as is usual in Japan), the current unified champion at 122 lbs revealed his plans to unify with other unified champion Marlon Tapales. Inoue also expressed the desire to stay at super bantamweight until he felt ready to move up to featherweight.
“If possible, Naoya will take on Tapales for the four-belt unification this year. Then, next year, he may face John Riel Casimero or Luis Nery. (WBO featherweight champion) Robeisy Ramirez might be Naoya’s future target should he move up to the featherweight division in the future.” Manager Hideyuki Ohashi, a former world champion himself, explained during the press conference.
John Riel Casimero (33-4, 22 KO’s) and Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KO’s) are currently considered to be the highest-rated contenders at super bantamweight. Robeisy Ramirez (13-1, 8 KO’s) currently operates a division above at featherweight as WBO champion, but isn’t the only option for Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KO’s) if he moves up given there are three other champions in that division.
Inoue has also speculated he might spend several years at super bantamweight:
“I wish to unify all the four world title belts within this year. It may take three years to have myself physically adjust to the 122-pound weight class, and then I may move up to the featherweight division. After taking a rest for a week, I wish to return to gym work.” Inoue revealed during the press conference.
Though Naoya Inoue’s stay at super bantamweight might be shorter than he anticipates, it has become clear that the Japanese unified champion is seeking to assert his claim in the division by facing WBA & IBF champion Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KO’s) as soon as possible. Reports also suggest that Inoue and Tapales already have a verbal agreement to fight in December, but this has yet to be confirmed by Top Rank, the American-based organization that promotes (or co-promotes) both fighters.
Becoming undisputed in two divisions has yet to be done by any male fighter, and Inoue is set to make history if he commences with his plans. To sum up the significance of this achievement, only WBO welterweight champion (and future Hall of Famer) Terence Crawford (39-0, 30 KO’s) can claim this record of being undisputed in two divisions if he manages to defeat Errol Spence Jr. (28-0, 22 KO’s) in the welterweight’s undisputed contest set to take place this upcoming weekend.
