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Boxing: Inoue confident ahead of historic fight vs Tapales

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Kyodo News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Japan" s="" WBC="" and="" WBO="" super="" bantamweight="" champion="" Naoya="" Inoue="" WBA="" IBF="" Marlon="" Tapales="" pose="" for="" photos="" after="" a="" press="" conference="" in="" Yokohama="" on="" December="" their="" title="" match="" scheduled="" at="" Ariake="" Arena.="" Kazuhiro="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/12/24/20231224-boxing.jpg"/><figcaption>Japan&#x27;s WBC and WBO super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (L) and Philippines&#x27; WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales pose for photos after a press conference in Yokohama on December 24, 2023 on their title match scheduled on December 26 at Tokyo&#x27;s Ariake Arena. Kazuhiro Nogi, AFP</figcaption></figure></div>Japanese boxer Naoya Inoue sounded poised as he reflected on history Sunday, two days ahead of a fight that could make him the second man to unify all four world championships in two different weight classes.He will face the Philippines&#x27; Marlon Tapales on Tuesday at Tokyo&#x27;s Ariake Arena for the undisputed super bantamweight world title.&quot;This is going to be historic and will be a great achievement, but in terms of my career, it will be just one stop on my journey,&quot; Inoue told a Yokohama press conference.Nicknamed &quot;the Monster,&quot; Inoue is undefeated in 25 pro fights, 22 of which he ended with a knockout. Last December, he unified all four bantamweight welts before relinquishing them to move up in weight.In his July super bantamweight debut, Inoue&#x27;s overwhelming eighth-round technical knockout of American Stephen Fulton earned him the WBC and WBO titles to set up Tuesday&#x27;s clash with Tapales.&quot;I&#x27;ve prepared myself without any slip-ups. I want to win regardless how the fight develops,&quot; Inoue said.&quot;If an opportunity comes my way, I want to seize it and take advantage.&quot;Tapales is 37-3 with 19 knockouts.&quot;In any case, I want to have a good fight and win,&quot; he said. &quot;I&#x27;m in good condition and my preparations have been thorough.&quot;In July, American Terence Crawford became the first to unify all four championships in two weight classes.==Kyodo

He will face the Philippines' Marlon Tapales on Tuesday at Tokyo's Ariake Arena for the undisputed super bantamweight world title.