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Marlon Tapales (second from right) will undergo a training camp in preparation for his title unification duel against WBC/WBO champion, the Monster KO Naoya Inoue. / Photo: Instagram @officialmarlontapales
LOS ANGELES – The WBA Super/IBF super bantamweight boxing champion, Marlon Tapales has set foot in Los Angeles, United States of America. While there, the boxer from the Philippines will undergo a training camp in preparation for the title unification duel against the WBC/WBO champion, the Monster KO Naoya Inoue, which is targeted for December.
Fully motivated, Tapales, accompanied by his trainer, Ernel Fontanilla, is ready to start an intensive training program at Knucklehead Gym, Las Vegas. The 31-year-old fighter wants to appear extraordinary both in terms of ability, strength and determination.
“I really understand the magnitude of this fight. Becoming the undisputed champion is the main goal in any boxer’s career, and I am ready to give everything to achieve it,” said Tapales, as quoted from Boxing Scene on Friday (25/8/2023).
“Naoya Inoue is an extraordinary fighter, but I have unwavering faith in my abilities and the hard work I have put into training. I will leave everything in the ring and prove that I am the best in this division,” continued the boxer nicknamed Nightmare with a record of 37-3 (19KO).
KO monster Naoya Inoue is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and has rocked the division in recent years. Last year, Inoue became the undisputed bantamweight champion with his win over Paul Butler.
(Foto: Boxing Scene)
The Japanese boxer then made the decision to move up to 122 pound weight to challenge WBC/WBO super bantamweight world champion Stephen Fulton last July. He successfully stopped Fulton in the eighth round to win the WBC and WBO belts.
The big win also made Inous the second boxer in Japanese history to win world titles in four divisions.
Tapales, who was outside the ring when Inoue defeated Fulton, immediately challenged the undefeated boxer to determine the undisputed super bantamweight champion.
Meanwhile, Tapales crowned himself as the IBF/WBA Super world super bantamweight champion after scoring a split decision victory over the previous champion, Murodjon Akhmadaliev. These results cost Akhmadaliev the first defeat in his professional career (11-1, 8 KO).
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