Entering the last week of 2023, the boxing world will see an excellent clash as the marvelous and undefeated Naoya Inoue squares off with the superb Marlon Tapales (37-3) for multiple super-bantamweight titles. Highlighted in this space before, Inoue is a four-division world champion and the current unified super bantamweight world champion, holding both the WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles since July. Meanwhile, Tapales is coming off a split-decision win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev where he locked down the WBA (super) and IBF super-bantamweight titles. With 19 knockouts in his career, this will be the southpaw’s biggest challenge yet as no one has been able to slow down the Monster.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each fighter, a predicted fight winner, and also more notes about boxing wagering.
As noted in prior articles, Inoue is one of the dominant fighters in the sport, and for good reason. With an unblemished professional record of 25-0, the 30-year-old Japanese fighter has notched an astounding 22 knockouts in his career. Moreover, he is coming off an eighth-round TKO victory over Stephen Fulton earlier this year at the Ariake. In that fight, he first knocked Fulton down with a left hook that forced the referee to stop the contest. Moreover, Inoue had out-landed his opponent 114 to 47 in total punches and 70 to 24 in power punches by that point per one report.
After the course of that bout, he became only the second-ever Japanese fighter to win major titles in four weight classes, following Kazuto Ioka. In addition to being undefeated, the Japanese athlete has won his last six bouts via TKO or KO and has been sensational in most fights. Finally, as of earlier this fall, he is ranked as the world’s second-best active boxer, pound-for-pound, by multiple publications.
As noted above, Tapales is coming off a dramatic split-decision victory over Murodjon Akhmadaliev for the WBA (Super) and IBF super-bantamweight world titles. A fighter with another menacing nickname – “Nightmare” – the Filipino southpaw has his work cut out for him, but he has also been marvelous in his career. Since falling in an IBF title bout to Ryosuke Iwasa in December 2019, Tapales rattled off four consecutive victories, including three by either TKO or KO.
In addition to his overall record, Tapales has accrued a mark of 6-3 in title fights throughout his career. Moreover, the Filipino fighter has only lost one fight since May of 2013 and has been able to win bouts in a blend of ways from knockouts (11) to decision wins (five). Having held world championships in two weight classes, Tapales is definitely one of the most renowned fighters in the world.
Prediction: No fighter has been able to slow down Inoue for long, plus this bout will be held in his native Japan which will only bolster the fortitude of the undefeated champion.
After you are all set with your homework and analysis on this bout, make sure to also check out the variety of information available to you at SBS. Of course, for even more information on the sport at hand, our boxing betting sites guide has you covered with the latest betting markets and news on the sport and even more title fights. Moreover, for those on the go, the best betting apps breakdown is a fantastic resource on mobile betting and always staying on top of the action. Finally, if you are uncertain about which routes are the best for your deposits and withdrawals, check out the payment methods rundown. On this page, you can find all kinds of options from cryptocurrencies to more traditional banking options.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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