TOKYO - There was no shocking the world for Naoya Inoue.
The Japanese sensation foiled the upset bid of Marlon Tapales, knocking out the brave but outclassed Filipino in the 10th round to become the undisputed super-bantamweight champion of the world on Tuesday night.
Inoue methodically dominated Tapales for most of the scheduled 12-round bout in front of 15,000 crowd at the Ariake Arena, before two powerful right straights sent the Filipino down for the count.
The end came at the 2:06 mark of the 10th round.
The win allowed Inoue to collect all four title belts - WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO - to become undisputed champion for the second time in his career.
Inoue, who reigned as undisputed champion at bantamweight last year, raised his record to 26-0 including 23 KOs.
"Big shoutout to Marlon Tapales," said Inoue of his Filipino challenger who he described as 'tough, strong, and very spirited.'
"He never showed any fatigue or damage on his face, so I was surprised when I dropped him in the 10th.”
Tapales, 31, was in tears in his corner after the fight, which saw him drop to 37-4 with 19 KOs.
He first went down in the fourth round when Inoue unleashed a barrage of three punches including a powerful left that snapped the head of Tapales.
But when everybody thought the Filipinos was finally done, the two-time world champion showed his durability by going strong in the seventh and eight rounds, certainly his best moments during the fight when he rocked Inoue with an assortment of punches, one of which nearly perfectly landing flush on the chin of the Japanese 'Monster.'
In the end though, Inoue just had too much firepower in his arsenal.
"Mabilis talaga si Inoue, hindi ko siya masabayan," said Tapales. "Magaling talaga si Inoue at tsaka mabilis."
The 30-year-old undisputed champion had nothing but respect to his Filipino foe.
“I am so relieved at the moment,” Inoue said. “I had to beat such a tough, strong opponent like Marlon Tapales."
It wasn't a good night for Filipino boxers as John Paul Gabunilas suffered a fifth round TKO at the hands of Japanese prospect Kanamu Sakama in the undercard.
The flyweight bout was stopped at the 2:35 mark of the fifth round.
It was the second straight loss for the Filipino fighter known as 'Angas ng Cebu' for a 10-2 record with 7 KOs, while Sakama remained perfect in nine fights including 8 by knockouts.
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.
