BOTH are heavy punchers and both are reigning world title holders.
And so what’s there to expect when Marlon Tapales and Naoya Inoue clash for the undisputed super-bantamweight championship of the world a day after Christmas in Tokyo, Japan.
Plain and simple, according to the 31-year-old Filipino.
READ Marlon Tapales undaunted by 'Monster' task
“Either siya or ako. Matatapos ito sa tumbahan talaga,” Tapales said without batting an eyelash following his media workout on Monday at the Elorde E-plus at BF Homes in Paranaque.
Trainer Ernell Fontanilla agreed with the reigning WBA and IBF champion.
“Ready na ito. Laban na lang ang kulang,” he said.
The small camp of the underdog champion managed by JC Mananquil of Sanman Promotions and handled by MP Promotions, just concluded its month-long training camp in Baguio City and made a brief Manila stop before travelling to Japan by Tuesday - or six days before Tapales faces the undefeated Japanese superstar know by his moniker ‘The Monster.’
“Maganda yung camp namin doon. High altitude at malamig tulad ng Japan. So wala naman akong dapat alalahanin,” said Tapales.
And he’s not worried either with the overwhelming odds he faces against a feared fighter who is unbeaten in 25 fights (with 22 KOs) and once reigned as the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.
“Tingin ko hindi ako takot sa kanya,” said Tapales, who has a record of 37-3 (19 KOs).
“Sa lahat ng dayo ko, underdog ako. Wala naman ako pakialam sa odds-odds na yan kasi alam ko sa sarili ko na yung training, preparasyon, at kumpiyansa sa sarili ko, buong-buo.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
