| |
|
The Master: Naoya Inoue Stops Marlon Tapales to Become Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Champion
PhilBoxing.com Wed, 27 Dec 2023

TOKYO, Japan (Dec. 26, 2023) — WBC/WBO junior featherweight world champion Naoya "The Monster" Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) made history again.
The Japanese pound-for-pound superstar knocked out Filipino IBF/WBA champion Marlon Tapales in round 10 to capture the undisputed junior featherweight championship Tuesday at Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
With the victory, Inoue joins Terence Crawford as the only male two-weight undisputed champions in the four-belt era. A four-weight world champion, Inoue is 21-0 with 19 knockouts in title fights and has knocked out his last seven foes.
Tapales (37-4, 19 KOs), a two-weight world champion, saw his four-fight winning streak end.
Inoue said, “I am so happy that I got the knockout in such a decisive manner.
“He never showed me fatigue or damage from his face, so I was quite surprised when he went down in the 10th round.
“It was one of the most intense fights I’ve ever had, probably, but my corner cheered me up and kept me focused throughout the bout.”
Tapales, who won the unified world championship earlier this year, came out as the aggressor and attempted to slow Inoue down with a concerted body attack. Inoue responded with savage body blows, sweeping the early rounds on the scorecards. Late in the fourth, a series of left hooks dropped Tapales, who rose just before the bell sounded to end the round.
Tapales found his rhythm in the middle rounds, backing Inoue up and ripping body shots in the seventh and eighth. "The Monster" found his stride in the ninth and finished off Tapales in the 10th with a right hand that put him down for the count. The pound-for-pound king, who started his career at 108 pounds, added two more belts to his massive collection.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET , Thu, 04 Dec 2025MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18 , Thu, 04 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras By Eric Armit, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai , Wed, 03 Dec 2025OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Who was Clever Sison? By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026 , Wed, 03 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025Two Pacquiaos on same card? By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026 , Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA , Tue, 02 Dec 2025THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around , Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez , Tue, 02 Dec 2025PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR , Tue, 02 Dec 2025Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 01 Dec 2025Jimuel draws in pro debut By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 01 Dec 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|