THE RESULT: Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue added another stoppage victim to his incredible 26-fight resume when he stopped Filipino Marlon Tapales in the minute and two seconds of the 10th round in Koto-Ku, Japan. In control throughout the fight, but pressed hard by a tenacious and game opponent, Inoue finally secured the finish thanks to a right hand to the forehead of Tapales, the impact of which forced Tapales to fall to the canvas with the padding well and truly knocked out. him.
KEY MOMENTS: After a typically fast start, Inoue landed his biggest shot of the fight in the fourth round, when a counter left hook connected with Tapales’ jaw and put him on shaky legs. Shortly after, Inoue knocked down Tapales for the first time in the fight.
RECORDS: The 30-year-old Inoue’s record is now 26-0 (23), while the 31-year-old Tapales falls to 37-4 (19).
TALKING POINT: Given that only Nonito Donaire has been able to take Inoue the full 12 rounds since 2016, one begins to wonder if anyone else is prepared to go the distance with Inoue these days, let alone beat him. Tonight’s opponent, Tapales, despite losing most of the rounds, was at least defensively solid, durable and ambitious, even having his own success with body shots. And yet, no matter how hard he huffed and puffed, and regardless of the quality of his chin and the extent of his determination, Tapales still cut a dejected, exhausted and sore figure when he fell to his knees in the tenth round. .
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Now that Inoue has collected all four major belts in the super bantamweight division, the second division in which he has accomplished this feat, the question must be this: Will he next move up to featherweight? If he does, there will be bigger challenges and bigger names for Inoue, who, at the age of 30, may be exactly what the “Monster” needs to maintain this impressive form.
