TOKYO - Marlon Tapales had his moments, but in the end Naoya Inoue was just too tough, too classy for him.
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons said the power and speed of the 30-year-old Japanese sensation were the biggest difference in his 10th-round knockout of Tapales on Tuesday night to reign as the undisputed super-bantamweight world champion.
READ Inoue now the undisputed world champion after knocking out Tapales in 10th
"He's such a powerful guy, hand speed, and overall package. Marlon, I tell you, pretty much beat 99 percent of the division, but Inoue is a special guy," said Gibbons.
Tapales, 31, went down twice against Inoue, getting hit with two successive right jab straights in the 10th round that ended the fight watched by a full-house crowd at the Ariake Arena.
The win not only preserved Inoue's perfect record at 26-0 (23 KOs), but also added the WBA and IBF titles to the WBC and WBO crowns he already owned.
The 'Monster' is now also a two-time undisputed champion, having done the same in the bantamweight division last year.
Tapales meanwhile, fell to 37-4 (19 KOs), although he did give Inoue a fight that the Japanese champ never saw from most of his previous opponents.
"Marlon had his moments where he hit him, rocked him I thought at one point in one round," said Gibbons.
"There was moment when I thought, 'Wow, maybe we could win this,'" added the boxing executive, aware that Tapales was a massive 7-1 underdog in the fight.
But Inoue was just in a different level.
"Right like when Marlon was having his moment, all of a sudden, Inoue took it to another gear," Gibbons said.
"Marlon is like a freight train, and the other guy is just like a Maserati. He can do things and he's explosive at times."
Tapales and his team of manager JC Manangquil, trainer Ernel Fontanilla, and Mike Pelayo will be returning to the country on Friday to be with their respective families to celebrate what remains of the holiday season.
But it's back to training once the new year starts.
What's next for Tapales?
Gibbons projects a comeback fight for Tapales in May, get a win and be back in contention for another world title.
"When Inoue moves up (in weight), if he does, then Marlon's fighting for a world title," Gibbons said.
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