Inoue isn’t invincible, but it sure feels that way
Boxing hasn’t always done so, but overperformed expectations during a busy 2023 schedule packed with new storylines, old rivalries renewed, fresh partnerships unveiled and most importantly big fights unfolding across multiple weight divisions.
Year-end awards have and continue to filter through in the early days of 2024, with Fighter of the Year a contentious topic more than most. Do you favour activity, strength of schedule or a personal preference trumps all contenders?
There are at least half-a-dozen who spring to mind: two in the UK, two undisputed champions, one who recently became a two-weight world titlist and an underappreciated talent who became a world champion this past year too. You’ll be able to guess most, but none pitch a more compelling case than Naoya Inoue.
Since 2014, the 30-year-old has won world titles as low as 108lbs (light-flyweight) and moved up three divisions with continued success since.
Inoue’s achievements continue to stack up
(26-0, 23 KOs) — unbeaten since losing Olympic qualifier as an amateur
WBC world light-flyweight champion, one defence
WBO world super-flyweight champion, seven title defences
WBA (and Super) world bantamweight titlist, seven defences
IBF world bantamweight champ, six defences
Became undisputed at bantamweight in December 2022
A year and two weeks later, does the same at super-bantamweight
That he’ll stay and defend his undisputed status in 2024 against the division’s best challengers isn’t just a wise decision, but one that will improve his resume further before the masses demand he moves up again to featherweight and beyond.
Remember, his body is still growing accustomed to the new weight and three years was the timeframe quoted as an adequate adjustment period before testing his limits at 126lbs – where jeopardy of the unknown and fan interest in fantasy matchups at championship level will continue building after his memorable year.
The fight itself
R10, 1:02 – Naoya Inoue (c) bt. Marlon Tapales (c) via TKO
Japanese unbeaten star defends IBF and WBA titles while earning WBO and WBC, is now undisputed super-bantamweight world champion
During a predictably tense opening stanza Inoue began by holding his feet in the pocket, throwing one-two combinations and staying defensively switched on as Tapales looked to gain his respect quickly with some patient body work.
Round two saw the home favourite land a faux knockdown in the first minute, Tapales losing his footing before catching himself mid-fall as he tried to corner him against the ropes and Inoue landed a counter left hand at the same time.
Although 16-year veteran referee Celestino Ruiz deemed it a slip, the visual was an unsettling one for the Filipino and things would immediately worsen as Inoue’s rapid power punches left him in somewhat of a trance, even while partially blocked.
Tapales’ high guard gave the Japanese a bigger target to aim at, and he seemed unfazed by the power being thrown during Tapales’ brief attacks in round three as he would just whip right hands of his own in response.
Inoue closes distance so quickly and is economic with his movement, making you work harder to stay at distance – the same was clear early here.
Tapales knew he had to do more in the fourth and while he had more success, it almost saw him stopped altogether in the final moments of a bruising stanza.
Digging hooks to the body landed for both, though Inoue’s had more venom and you could tell by the way he chained them together that it wouldn’t be long before his pocket pressure would pay dividends.
Shots like those were a sign of things to come, and while Tapales knew he couldn’t take a backwards step against the ropes, that’s exactly what happened as the onslaught shook his equilibrium before he was dropped.
Fortunately for him he beat the count and the bell came moments later, before their exchanges were even more intense in the fifth.
Repeatedly punching your gloves together and walking forward defiantly for more after your head is being snapped back isn’t a welcoming sign, though Tapales did land a sneaky uppercut and hook combo on more than one occasion – which seemed to spur Inoue into unloading more and exposing the 31-year-old’s defenses.
Inoue was more measured in the sixth, an approach that didn’t favour his fellow unified champion, and that was obvious in the final minute of another assertive round for the Japanese.
Tapales was treading thin ice but fared better in the seventh and eighth, boxing well behind the jab while being more evasive with shoulder and head movement whenever the unbeaten champion quickly closed distance between them.
Still getting tagged but less so, though that tactic wouldn’t last in a fight where he needed Inoue regularly opening himself up to counters – and outwork him – to overturn a wide deficit on the scorecards by this stage.
They exchanged power shots early in the ninth, though it wasn’t long before Inoue took control of another round where he did the better work and his combination punching had Tapales pinned up against the ropes.
Into the tenth they went, but not for long. Inoue connected with a straight right through Tapales’ high guard and as he went to follow up for more, he saw the Filipino crumble to the canvas in a heap in-front of him.
He couldn’t beat the referee’s count and just like that, Naoya became undisputed in his second weight class – five months after making 21-0, former-unified world champion Stephen Fulton look ordinary. Not a bad way to end the year, is it?
Picture source: Getty Images
GIFs taken via Lemino’s fight night broadcast
Mo and Sports 