Naoya Inoue Defeated Marlon Tapales in Japan
Japanese boxing sensation Naoya Inoue, the renowned four-division champion, has once again made history by securing his second undisputed championship in just over a year, following an impressive eleventh-round knockout against Marlon Tapales from the Philippines.
This recent bout at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena saw Naoya Inoue deliver two knockdowns, with the second one in the tenth round leading to a complete unification of the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO junior featherweight titles.
Throughout the match, Naoya Inoue displayed a calculated approach, effectively using his jab and strategic right hands against Marlon Tapales, who maintained a solid defense but couldn’t capitalize on his brief moments of success. Inoue escalated his assault from the second round, overpowering Tapales, who struggled to find counterattack opportunities.
Despite the Filipino boxer’s defensive efforts, Naoya Inoue’s aggression and precise combinations, especially in the later rounds, overwhelmed Tapales, who joined the list of Filipino victims by the Japanese monster.
The turning point came in the fourth round when Naoya Inoue’s powerful left hook and right-hand combination sent Tapales to the canvas. Although Marlon Tapales showed resilience, Inoue’s dominance grew, particularly in the sixth round, where his continuous right hands caused significant trouble for Tapales.
The Japanese boxer’s relentless attack culminated in the tenth round with a decisive right hand, knocking Marlon Tapales down and leading to a victory by count-out.
Marlon Tapales Ends Reigns as WBA/IBF Title
This defeat marked the end of Marlon Tapales’ less-than-nine-month reign as the WBA/IBF junior featherweight champion following his win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
This loss also meant that Tapales could not successfully defend his title in two different reigns, including a previous stint as the WBO bantamweight champion.
Marlon Tapales’ boxing match in Japan is his fifth time; his last fight was in 2017, when he won the Bantamweight title.
Before the fight against Inoue, Tapales’s team said that to prove the Filipino boxer’s greatness at super bantamweight, Marlon Tapales must take down Inoue, who has already won undisputed gold at the bantamweight level.
Watch the Full Fight Video Between Inoue & Tapales
Naoya Inoue’s Solidifies Status as Boxing Legend
Inoue’s victory elevates his record to an undefeated 26-0, with 23 knockouts, further solidifying his status as a boxing legend. This achievement follows just five months after he became the first Japanese boxer to unify titles in two divisions, adding to his historical run at junior flyweight and junior bantamweight.
Naoya Inoue, also known as “The Monster,” plans to continue in the 122-pound division, with potential defenses against top contenders like Luis Nery and Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Inoue’s career milestones include 19 wins in primary title fights across four weight divisions. His rapid ascendancy in unifying titles in the four-belt era outpaces other notable boxers like Terence Crawford and Claressa Shields, making him one of the most accomplished boxers in the sport’s history.
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