TWO-belt title holder Marlon Tapales will be a curious spectator at ringside when Naoya Inoue challenges Stephen Fulton for the WBC and WBO super-bantamweight crowns in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday.
Tapales arrived in the Japanese capital on Sunday to personally watch the 12-round match at Ariake Arena in the hope of challenging the winner for the undisputed championship at 122lbs before the year ends.
Tapales eyes unification fight
The Filipino currently owns the WBA-IBF versions of the crown which he won by split decision last April against Murodjon Akhmadalievby.
The camp of Akhmadalievby sought a rematch with Tapales, but the WBA gave the Filipino champion the leeway for a voluntary title defense, and lost no time pursuing a unification fight whoever comes out victorious between Fulton and Inoue.
Tapales, who carries a 37-3 record (19 KOs), came to Japan with trainer Ernel Fontanilla and Sanman CEO JC Mananquil, along with MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions president Sean Gibbons.
The fight with Fulton will be Inoue’s first since relinquishing his bragging rights as the world's undisputed bantamweight champion.
The 30-year-old undefeated Japanese (24-0, 21 KOs) nonetheless, is favored against Fulton (21-0, 8 KOs), who will be making the third defense of his titles.
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