Naoya Inoue (25-0-0, 22 KOs) is chasing a place in the history books on Tuesday when he faces Filipino southpaw Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs) at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
The WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Inoue bids to become the first Asian boxer to be an undisputed champion in two different weights in the four-belt era against WBA and IBF titleholder Tapales.
Inoue, 30, is an overwhelming favourite to dethrone Tapales, 31, and unite the division.
But the underdog has been buoyant since he arrived in Tokyo and has said that his legendary countryman Manny Pacquiao has provided him with some pointers on how to upset the odds and become the first man to topple The Monster.
Tapales has told the media that he’s prepared for the fight of his life, and the herculean task in front of him, and he needs to be when he graces enemy territory at Ariake on Boxing Day.
Inoue sent shockwaves through the sport when he demolished previously unbeaten American Stephen Fulton in July in the same venue to win two super bantamweight titles in his first outing at 122 pounds.
