Japanese boxing famous person Naoya Inoue is chasing a uncommon slice of boxing historical past when he takes on Marlon Tapales in a blockbuster combat in Tokyo on Tuesday night time.
Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) is aiming to develop into an undisputed champion in two divisions as he places his WBC and WBO tremendous bantamweight belts on the road in opposition to Filipino Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs), who’s the IBF and WBA champion.
Boxing: INOUE VS TAPALES TUES twenty sixth DEC 7PM AEDT | Order Now with Foremost Occasion on Kayo Sports activities
Inoue, has already conquered the bantamweight division and if he wins, he’ll be a part of Terence Crawford, Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields as simply the fourth fighter to have been undisputed in two divisions within the fashionable four-belt period.
The 30-year-old has beforehand been ranked the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter by The Ring Journal, and at the moment sits No. 2 in these rankings behind Crawford.
The principle occasion combat is anticipated to start round 10pm AEDT. You may watch it through Foremost Occasion and Kayo Sports activities.
Inoue vs Tapales spherical updates
Spherical 1: An attention-grabbing first spherical as Inoue takes his time to regulate to Tapales however confirmed glimpses of his energy.
Tapales landed a few photographs however might want to preserve transferring and never stand nonetheless and be a sitting duck for Inoue’s brutal one-two punch.
Spherical 2: Tapales is hanging in there and isn’t afraid to be aggressive, however Inoue is touchdown jabs and physique photographs with ease.
Spherical 3: A extra measured method by Tapales however nonetheless a very good spherical from Inoue, who’s beginning to open the shoulders and swing.
Spherical 4: Oh boy, Inoue has gone beast mode. The Monster peppered Tapales with completely brutal physique photographs and knocked down the Filipino late within the spherical.
“Devastating physique photographs by Inoue,” Curran Bhatia stated in commentary.
Spherical 5: Tapales has two belts for a cause and he’s preventing again right here, touchdown some blows in his finest spherical but.
Spherical 6: That is Inoue at his finest. He’s connecting with photographs to the top and the physique with ease and is nicely on prime. However Tapales has settled right into a rhythm and his defence is holding up.
Spherical 7: Tapales is exhibiting a severe chin as he cops numerous photographs from Inoue because the pair go to-toe-to. That is turning into an epic scrap and Tapales might need received that spherical.
Spherical 8: Inoue is having to select and select his moments now and Tapales is utilizing his jab nicely.
Former light-weight champion Jamel Herring stated: “He’s received Inoue considering now. It’s a chess match. Early within the combat it was a slugfest.”
Spherical 9: One other spherical to Inoue, however Tapales has lasted method longer than anybody anticipated.
Spherical 10: Inoue related with a heavy proper hand, backing Tapales in opposition to the ropes and he falls to his knees. Tapales can’t make it up earlier than the standing depend is over and that’s it, Inoue makes boxing historical past.
9.50pm – Challenger loses his legs after dropping co-main
Seiya Tsutsumi defeated Kazuki Anaguchi through unanimous determination in an entertaining co-main occasion.
Anaguchi was knocked down 4 occasions, together with a ultimate blow that left him on the canvas with 5 seconds left within the final spherical.
It was a wild combat contemplating Anaguchi had been profitable many rounds however undid all his good work when he received knocked down.
Anaguchi embraced Tsutsumi however his staff needed to maintain him up as his legs wobbled and he almost collapsed in opposition to the ropes after the combat.
Aussie desires to combat tremendous bantamweight kings
Undefeated Australian Sam Goodman (17-0, 7KOs) has risen up the tremendous bantamweight rankings with 4 victories in 2023 and has stated he would relish a combat in opposition to both Tapales or Inoue.
Goodman is the No. 1 contender within the IBF and WBO divisions.
Full combat card
Naoya Inoue (c) vs. Marlon Tapales (c) for the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF tremendous bantamweight titles
Seiya Tsutsumi def Kazuki Anaguchi (UD) – Bantamweight
Andy Hiraoka def Sebastian Diaz Maldonado (Spherical 5, TKO) – Tremendous Light-weight
Yoshiki Takei def Mario Diaz Maldonado (Spherical 2, KO) – Tremendous Bantamweight
