The WBA has ordered the super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales to enter into a unification bout with the winner of Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton on July 25th, 2023.
The decision is significant in light of the implications that it will have on Tapales moving forward. Tapales will no longer have to undertake a mandatory defense, as well as a rematch with Murodjon Akhmadaliev, whom he had beaten via a split decision.
The WBA had been petitioned to try and make a rematch with Akhmadaliev, only to then receive a directive to try and make a title eliminator against Tomoki Kameda. But now the WBA has made its position very clear.
WBA orders Akhmadaliev-Kameda eliminator, grants Marlon Tapales to fight Inoue-Fulton winner. pic.twitter.com/AnT026FiOW
— Jalol Akhmedov🇺🇿 (@JalolAkhmedov) June 6, 2023
“Tapales defeated Akhmadaliev last April 8 to retain the crown in a controversial and close fight. Matchroom Boxing made a direct rematch request to the WBA and although there are elements that could support it, it is not feasible to do so at this time.Â
“This bout would be a unification of the WBA, IBF, WBC and WBO titles, which is a powerful reason to admit it for the sake of boxing,” WBA
The outcome will also be very significant for Fulton and Inoue. The former will be making his third-title defense, while Inoue will be hoping to become a four-division champion as everything on the line.