Philippines, 20 Jun 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


TAKUMA INOUE BEATS FROILAN SALUDAR TO EARN TITLE SHOT AT WBO BANTAMWEIGHHT CHAMPION MARLON TAPALES


PhilBoxing.com




Japan?s Takuma Inoue came off the canvas in the opening round of a furious ten round battle in which he decked Filipino Froilan ?The Sniper? Saludar twice, in rounds eight and nine, to earn a crack at WBO bantamweight champion Marlon ?The Nightmare? Tapales at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on December 30.

Salud had received several offers for Tapales to defend his title in London against former IBF champion Paul ?Baby Faced Assassin? Butler who is 27 years old and has a record of 21-1 with 12 knockouts. However, Wakee hadn?t received any details on the purse offer and ancillary rights. There were also offers from Puerto Rico and even Vietnam but promoter/manager Rex ?Wakee? Salud chose to have the newly-crowned bantamweight champion make the first defense of his title in negotiations finalized with Japanese journalist/matchmaker Joe Koizumi who represented the camp of Takuma Inoue.

The 20 year old Inoue who fought as a bantamweight for the first time, earned a hard-fought unanimous ten round decision over Saludar with scores of 97-90 on the scorecards of two judges, Kazuo Abe and Biney Martin and 96-91 on the scorecard of the third judge Kazutoshi Yoshida. The referee was Yuji Fukuchi.

Takuma is the younger brother of the more popular WBO super flyweight champion Naoya Inoue.

Takuma Inoue who is ranked No. 4 by the WBC has a record of 8-0 with 2 knockouts.

The southpaw Tapales is coming off a stunning KO victory over Thai champion Pungluang Sor Singyu in a fight in which the Filipino got off the canvas twice in round five to comeback and drop the Thai world champion in the very next round before eventually blasting Pungluang into submission in the 11th round.
WBO fight supervisor and Asia Pacific vice president Leon Panoncillo told The Standard ?it was one of the best fights I?ve ever seen in Thailand.?

Photo: Takuma Inoue (R) throws a left on Saludar during their 10-round bantamweight bout at the Sky Arena in Zama, Kanagawa, Japan Sunday.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Weigh-in Results: Collazo and Valdez On Weight for Flyweight Showdown in Oceanside
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Jun 2026
  • “I feel Murat’s style is a perfect match for me.” Tony Yoka prepares for Murat Gassiev
    , Sat, 20 Jun 2026
  • Alex Eala continue her magical run by beating World No. 8 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 20 Jun 2026
  • BOXING LEGEND: JIMMY CARRUTHERS
    By Ray Dunbar, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH H2O SYLVE vs. JOJO DIAZ
    , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • Collazo vs. Valdez Final Press Conference Quotes
    , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • Alex Eala beats World No.2 Elena Rybakina
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • Undefeated Cuban Middleweight Pedro Veitia Scores Electrifying Stoppage of Previously Unbeaten Taiwo Afolabi
    , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • Riyadh Season boxing events will stream free starting in November
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • Heavyweight Contender Gustavo "The Cuban Assassin" Trujillo Returns June 28 in Main Event of "Fist of Fury 11"
    , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • DC Eagles routs Perfect, 5-1 in R5
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • PCCI Las Piñas Leaders to Visit Lipa for the June 20 JCI Rapid Chess Tournament
    , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez eyes five squads in JCI Senate Lipa 3X3 Open Rapid Chess Tournament on June 20
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026
  • PACHECO CLASHES WITH ALEEM ON STACKED LA CARD
    , Thu, 18 Jun 2026
  • Rising Mexican Contender Neider Valdez Steps in to Face Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo in WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Championship Fight
    , Thu, 18 Jun 2026
  • Sumabong to defend WBO title against undefeated Taiwanese on July 11 in Bohol
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Jordan Orozco Remains Perfect with Dominant Third-Round TKO of Fernando Diaz on MVP/Boxlab Card in Orlando
    , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Floyd Mayweather Jr could face charges of fraud in Las Vegas
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • EDDIE HEARN SIGNS DIVINE OMOJOR FOR MATCHROOM BOXING ON LONG-TERM DEAL AS NEWCASTLE TEENAGE CRUISERWEIGHT TURNS PRO
    , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • DC Trail Ultra on July 26 in Calinan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Torre to grace Gov. Oaminal Chess Festival
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Apolinar, Santisima to fight on June 19 in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Canoy still waiting for his US visa for June 20 fight against Collazo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • "Hand of Stone" Roberto Durán celebrates 75th birthday
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026
  • Sy-Tancontian excited on Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.