Marlon Tapales (front) is waved off by the referee after getting struck down by Naoya Inoue (back turned). —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS/WENDELL ALINEA
TOKYO—Japan’s Naoya Inoue said he was still as hungry as ever after becoming an undisputed world champion in a second weight class on Tuesday, knocking out Marlon Tapales to assert all 4 super bantamweight belts.
The unbeaten Inoue, nicknamed “Monster,” floored the Philippines fighter with an enormous right hand within the tenth round in Tokyo so as to add the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles to his own World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts.He became only the second man to unify all 4 world titles in two different weight classes, following American Terence Crawford.
Inoue needed just two fights to develop into the first-ever undisputed super bantamweight world champion, 12 months after completing his rampage through the bantamweight division.The 30-year-old took his record to 26-0 with 23 KOs and said he was just getting began at the upper weight class.
“One yr ago, I used to be in the same situation after claiming all 4 belts,” said Inoue, who last yr became the primary undisputed bantamweight champion in half a century before vacating his titles to maneuver up a division.“I wanted to point out my appreciation to all of the individuals who had supported my profession.
“But whatever the undeniable fact that I even have these 4 belts, I still need to fight more great matches.”
Inoue knocked out American Stephen Crawford in his super bantamweight debut in July but he needed to dig deeper to see off Tapales.
The 31-year-old from the Philippines went down within the fourth round but clawed his way back into the match with a dogged performance.
Inoue finally ended Tapales’ challenge with a ferocious right hand that his opponent never looked like getting up from.
Naoya Inoue (left) connects with a right to Marlon Tapales.
Inoue said Tapales was a “very tough” fighter who surprised him along with his strong defense.
“He kept a poker face throughout and didn’t show that my punches were doing him any damage, so I used to be quite surprised when he went down within the tenth round,” he said.
Tapales upset Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev by split decision in April to win the IBF and WBA titles.
He vowed to return back from the loss but conceded that the result was a good one.
“I used to be impressed by Inoue’s technique as a boxer, and I used to be surprised by his speed,” said Tapales, whose record dropped to 37-4 with 19 KOs.
“He was very fast and I just wasn’t in a position to meet up with him.”
Inoue has won world titles in 4 different weight divisions, having also triumphed at the sunshine flyweight and super flyweight levels.
‘Sense of feat’
He knocked out England’s Paul Butler in December last yr to develop into the primary undisputed bantamweight world champion since Panama’s Enrique Pinder in 1972.
Crawford beat fellow American Errol Spence in July to win all of the welterweight belts and develop into the primary man to unify all 4 world titles in two different weight classes.
Inoue said he felt “a way of feat” after following in Crawford’s footsteps.
“I believe super bantamweight is probably the most suitable weight class for me for the time being,” Inoue said.
“Next yr and the yr after that, I would like to prove that I can develop into a fair stronger fighter.”Inoue has said that he intends to retire at 35 but he hinted earlier this yr that he might extend his profession for 2 extra years.
He said his performances will dictate when he hangs up his gloves.
“If I feel like I’m slowing down, I would even retire before I’m 35,” he said.
“But I don’t need to discuss retirement just now.” —AFP
