By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda
Prior to tomorrow’s undisputed unification bout, the weigh-in ceremony took place on Monday in Yokohama, Japan. WBC, WBO super bantam champion Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs), Japan, tipped the beam at 121.75, a quarter pound lighter than the class limit, while WBA, IBF ruler Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs), Philippines, scaled in at 121.5 pounds. Each looked in good shape to make us expect a great fight. Bob Arum, 92, CEO of Top Rank Inc., was in attendance.
The officials are as follows:
Referee Celestino Ruiz (US), judges Robin Taylor (US), Raul Caiz Jr. (US), Craig Metcalfe (Canada).
Supervisors: Michael George (US, WBC), Jose Oliver Gomez (Panama, WBA), Ben Keilty (Australia, IBF), Leon Panoncillo (US, WBO).
The undercard weigh-in results were as follows:
Japanese bantamweight title bout
Defending champion Seiya Tsutsumi (9-0-2, 7 KOs) 117.75
JBC#3 Kazuki Anaguchi (6-0, 2 KOs) 117.75
IBF#8 super light Andy Hiraoka (22-0, 17 KOs) 142
Sebastian Diaz (Mexico; 18-6-1, 13 KOs) 141
WBA#10 bantam Yoshiki Takei (7-0, 7 KOs) 120.25
Mario Diaz (Mexico, 21-6, 9 KOs)
The unbeaten sensational southpaw Takei lately renounced his OPBF 122-pound belt to move down to the 118-pound category.
WBA#15 light fly Kanamu Sakama (8-0, 7 KOs) 108.75
John Paul Gabunilas (Philippines, 10-2, 7 KOs) 107.25
This show will be presented by Ohashi Promotions to be shown on Lemino streaming in Japan and on ESPN+ in US.
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Inoue looks like a one chiseled piece, an obviously great preparation. Tapales looks great too, and being both under the weight limit is a clear indication of no draining to achieve it.
My intention to watch this tight is just for to know how overwhelming Inoue can be against tapales who apparently seems to be a very tough fighter
I’m pretty sure Inoue will win but …
My questions are :
-Is gona be early or late ko/tko???
-wide or close decicion
Depending on the result I will classified Inoue once for all as far as dominion is concerned
I Wish Inoue can fight outside japan and submit to rules on medical testing after fight
My prediction Inoue tko 7
Merry Christmas. Sounds about right. I’m calling a TKO as well. It could end earlier depending on how hard Tapales tries to get inside as he usually does. If he does, Inoue will rip the body with hooks to the liver as Monster steps to his own left to counter.
That will either be the ending shot or opening up great opportunities upstairs for the finish.
No chance for Marlon
If Tapales can repeat the performance of the Akhmadaliev fight, I see a competitive fight that could well go the distance. Tapales knows how to look after himself in the ring.
In that way you gotta bring Morodjon instead Inoue if you want tapales to perform the same way he already did
I know that this fight is a game plan of Bob Arum’s Top Rank. They let Tapales capture the title before this fight coz they knew that Tapales can easily be beaten by Inoue and they want Inoue to be popular in order to draw a large number of audience. Money matters. That’s why they avoided a fight with Casimiero Quadro de alas.