In an eagerly anticipated matchup, unified super bantamweight champions Naoya Inoue and Marlon Tapales are set to face off in a historic bout for the undisputed title. ESPN has reported that the fight is being planned for November, giving both fighters a relatively short preparation time. However, Inoue’s recent performances have shown that he is a force to be reckoned with and may not need much additional time to prepare.
Tapales secured the IBF and WBA 122-lb titles last April after defeating champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev by a twelve-round split decision.
On the other hand, in a recent thrilling match earlier this week, Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) claimed the WBC and WBO 122-lb titles by stopping champion Stephen Fulton (21-1, 8 KOs) in the eighth round at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Prior to this defeat, Fulton was highly regarded by many fans as the top super bantamweight contender. However, Inoue’s exceptional performance showcased his dominance in the division, as he dropped Fulton twice in the eighth round before the referee stopped the fight. Fulton’s lack of power and absence of an effective jab were evident throughout the match.
Can Tapales succeed where Fulton didn’t?
“I want to fight Inoue to prove to myself that I am a great champion,” Tapales said in the ring, respecting his new rival.
Betting line
Incidentally, Naoya Inoue was a -400 favorite against Fulton, implying a win probability of 80% while Stephen Fulton was the underdog at +280.
Some may argue that Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) is a step down from Fulton in terms of competition, but for Inoue, that is not a concern. His primary motivation for facing Tapales, a 31-year-old fighter, is to capture the IBF and WBA super bantamweight titles and boast the achievement of being a two-weight undisputed champion.
With this upcoming clash, fans and the boxing world are eagerly anticipating an action-packed showdown between two elite fighters vying for the prestigious undisputed super bantamweight championship. The fight promises to be a significant moment in the sport, and both Inoue and Tapales will undoubtedly be giving their all to claim victory.
Inoue vs Tapales odds (early)
Per two of Oddschecker’s sources, the betting line is looking even stouter for Inoue, who some consider the world’s best pound for pound.
Roughly 12 hours after Inoue’s impressive knockout of Fulton, PaddyPower and betfair have Inoue as the 1/12 favorite while Tapales is slated as the 13/2 underdog. Their odds of a draw are 20/1. Hence, a winning $100 bet on Inoue would net $8.33 while the same winning wager on Tapales would net $650.
Unless something detrimental happens in Inoue’s camp, don’t expect the odds to change much.
Tapales has beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents and has stopped 3 of them inside the distance. Inoue remains undefeated as a professional, stopping his last 6 opponents inside the distance.