Earlier this week, we confirmed reports that Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KO) vs Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KO) is planned to take place on Boxing Day, December 26, 2023. That confirmation came without an official location, though it was speculated that the fight would likely take place in Japan.
It has now been confirmed that Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales will take place at an unnamed venue in Tokyo. This confirmation came from the WBO’s 36th annual convention in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
The winner of this fight will be the division’s first undisputed champion in history since the division was officially reinstated in 1977, after existing briefly in the early 1920s. The bout will be each fighter’s first defense at the junior featherweight weight limit of 118 pounds (53.5 KG).
A win by Inoue will leave him as just the second male and third overall boxer in the world to fully unify all four major titles. If victorious, he would join Terence Crawford and Claressa Shields.