Japanese super bantamweight unified champion Naoya Inoue has set himself on the path to becoming undisputed once more, this time against Filipino unified champion Marlon Tapales. The two have been officially scheduled to fight on December 26th in Inoue’s home country of Japan at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
It will be Marlon Tapales’ (37-3, 19 KO’s) first opportunity to become undisputed, following his win on April 8th this year over former WBA & IBF super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-1, 8 KO’s).
For Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KO’s), this is the second time he stands a chance to become undisputed after becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion in 2022 on December 13th. If he manages to win against Tapales, he will become the first male boxer to become undisputed twice in little over a year.
The fight provides an opportunity for both fighters to make history, as there has not been an undisputed champion in any era of the 122 lbs division. Inoue, regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world currently, has the chance to cement himself as a future Hall of Famer. He has had a breakthrough career, becoming one of the few boxers to win a world title within a double-digit number of fights and continuing to become one of the most recognizable and accomplished fighters on the planet.
Tapales, aged 31, also boasts significant credentials, having conquered titles at both bantamweight and super bantamweight. A win over Inoue would catapult him into boxing superstardom, given the reputation, ability, and credentials of the Japanese boxer, who will be looking to maintain his impressive unbeaten record on December 26th.
The willingness of both fighters to put their titles, records, and even careers on the line has enabled this significant and historical fight to occur. Their bout is set to define the super bantamweight division for years to come.
Going into the match, Naoya Inoue is undoubtedly the favorite due to a multitude of factors, including home advantage, an unblemished winning record, his pound-for-pound status, and his achievements in more than three weight divisions throughout his career.
Marlon Tapales stands at the precipice of a career-defining moment as the clear underdog. Though his chances of winning are very slim according to oddsmakers, boxing is an ever-unpredictable sport of upsets, and Tapales is certainly good enough to overturn the predictions that favor Inoue.
