Philippines, 03 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Is Inoue unbeatable?


PhilBoxing.com




It appears that there’s no man alive who can beat undisputed WBC/WBA/IBF/WBO superbantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in his weight division at the moment. The Japanese “Monster” is peaking at 31 and has a 28-0 record, with 25 KOs. He’s only the third boxer in history to win four titles in the same weight class with Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk the others. His last nine fights ended in abbreviated fashion and 10 of his 25 KO wins were inside three rounds.

The last man to survive the distance with Inoue was Nonito Donaire in 2019. The Filipino Flash was the closest to defeat Inoue who ended their clash with a fractured right orbital bone, broken nose and a cut over the right eye requiring five stitches. But in a rematch in 2022, Inoue floored Donaire twice and won by a second round stoppage.

Unfazed by Inoue’s pristine record, former WBO bantamweight and WBA/IBF superbantamweight ruler Marlon Tapales hinted that if given another chance, he’ll tame the Monster. Late last year, Tapales was decked in the fourth round and counted out in the 10th as Inoue unified the championships in the 122-pound division. The other day, Tapales said things will be different in a rematch. “Magaling si Inoue, alam natin ‘yan,” he said. “Gustong-gusto ko makalaban siya muli. Mayroon akong gustong gawin na patunayan kasi mayroon akong nagawa noon na pagkakamali na ako lang ang nakakaalam.” Tapales has repeatedly reviewed the video of the fight and at hindsight, knows what he did wrong. He also knows now what to do to repulse Inoue.

Tomorrow, Tapales defends his WBC Asian Continental superbantamweight crown against India’s Saurabh Kumar at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It’ll be his second outing since losing to Inoue. Last May, Tapales roared back to pulverize Thailand’s Nattapong Jankaew in one round. Tapales’ manager JC Manangquil of SanMan Promotions expects a convincing victory and will line up another fight before the year ends. The plan is to bring Tapales back on the throne. He’s rated No. 2 by WBC, No. 3 by IBF and No. 4 by WBA so a title shot isn’t far away.

Tapales, 32, boasts a 38-4 record, with 20 KOs. He turned pro in 2008, 12 years before Kumar’s debut. Kumar, 28, has an 11-1-1 mark, with six KOs and last year, was halted by Zhong Liu in Wuhan. Fighting overseas is nothing new to Tapales who has compiled an 11-3 record abroad, seeing action in the US, Japan, Thailand and Mexico.

Inoue has victimized six Filipinos----Donaire twice, Tapales, Crison Omayao, Jerson Mancio, Warlito Parrenas and Michael Dasmarinas. Last Tuesday, the Monster stopped Ireland’s TJ Doheny in the seventh round with Top Rank head Bob Arum watching at ringside in Tokyo. After the demolition, Arum announced that Inoue will fight once more in Japan this year then head to Las Vegas where bigger game awaits. Inoue has fought thrice in the US but not since 2021. His last seven fights were in Japan. If Inoue moves up to the featherweight division, four superbantamweight belts will be up for grabs and Tapales will surely be tapped to vie for one of them. Tapales, however, isn’t banking on filling in for Inoue. He's itching for a return engagement.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Allan Villanueva vs. Jyl Wright Headlines Peter Maniatis Event in Melbourne Oct. 3
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Mike Tyson Joins BoltBetz as Strategic Investor and Promotional Partner to Usher in a New Era of Cashless Gaming
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
    , Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
    , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez Facing Extended Layoff After Crawford Loss; Surgery Confirms Injury Rumors
    By Dong Secuya, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Dante Stone is last American standing in Inaugural WBC Grand Prix
    , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Age Defying Triumph: At Age 50 Toshihiko Era Wins World Title
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • TKO and Zuffa Boxing sign streaming agreement with Paramount
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Boxing Ephemera, Pacquiao’s Mouthguard, and the Meaning of It All
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • A turning point for global sport: IBA President Umar Kremlev and Donald Trump Jr join forces
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Rosia captures PBF super fly title
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • Tancontians starred 2025 Sports Heroes Night
    , Mon, 29 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” guest list
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 28 Sep 2025
  • Why Do So Many Boxers Play eGames?
    , Sun, 28 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.