An undisputed fight between Naoya Inoue and Marlon Tapales is reportedly being considered for December in Tokyo, Japan.
Following Inoue’s eighth-round-stoppage win over Stephen Fulton to secure the WBO and WBC super-bantamweight titles, the talk turned towards an undisputed fight with Tamaples.
Tapales’ last fight was a split-decision win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev on April 8th, 2023. The former holds the WBA and IBF titles, as both fighters stood in the ring to express their intention to make the fight happen.
“Everything I was thinking about this year was to fight him and become a four-division champion. Unfortunately I hurt myself in training camp and had to wait,” Inoue
“I want to fight Inoue because he is a great champion,” Tapales
Let’s do this, this year,” Inoue
The fight will offer Inoue the opportunity to become undisputed in a second weight class, much like Terence Crawford and Claressa Shields have done.
And given that there is so much on the line, fans were keen to see the fight happen.
Social Media Response
He finna be undisputed in two weight classes in under two years. That’s crazy 😳 https://t.co/B25dqOScA3
— Kellavelli (@SznVetKel) August 21, 2023
— Mike (@Mike__Dhcf) August 21, 2023
Ain’t wasting no time
— 🥊 (@boxingdontstop) August 21, 2023