Another fantastic boxing match to keep you entertained coming up when Naoya Inoue looks to unify the super bantamweight division when he faces off against Marlon Tapales at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue is one of the most feared punchers in the lower weight divisions with a stunning 88% knockout rate throughout his career, while Tapales will be looking to become the first person to defeat "The Monster" and make history as the undisputed champion at 122-pounds.
We'll take a look at the fight and provide you with our best free boxing picks to see if we can earn you some extra cash while you watch two of the best in the world scrap it out.
Check out the best betting bonuses available with bookmakers here.
Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales information
- Tuesday, December 26th 2023
- Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
- WBC, WBO, WBA (super), IBF Super Bantamweight titles
- 12 x 3 minute rounds
- 122-pound weight limit
Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales odds
- Naoya Inoue - (-1400)
- Marlon Tapales - (+800)
A four-weight world champion and one of the best punchers in the sport of boxing in Inoue, who holds a professional record of 25-0 with 22 knockouts and three decisions.
Inoue has already held world titles at light-flyweight, junior bantamweight and bantamweight titles and successfully moved up to super-bantamweight in pursuit of history on the back of a five-fight knockout streak, ending the brilliant Stephen Fulton's undefeated run with a stunning knockout last time out.
Jason Moloney, Michael Dasmarinas, Aran Dipaen, Nonito Donaire and Paul Butler all have stepped into the ring with Inoue since 2020 and failed to go the distance prior to that also.
If you want to bet on "The Monster" to maintain his undefeated record once this fight is over, you can get a best price of -1400 meaning you must bet $1400 to see a return of $100.
Tapales on the other hand comes into this fight with a fantastic professional record of 37-3, with 19 knockouts and 18 decision wins.
"The Nightmare" suffered defeat in his first attempt to become the champion at super bantamweight when he suffered an 11th round knockout at the hands of Ryosuke Iwasa back in December 2019. Since then though he has gone on a four-fight win streak.
Eden Sonsona, Hiroaki Teshigawara and Jose Estrella were all knocked out in the second round of their bouts, before Tapales claimed a split decision win over Murodijon Akhmadaliev to claim the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight belts in April of this year.
If you think Tapales is the man to finally stop Inoue you can get a best price of +800, meaning you can earn an $800 profit for every $100 you bet if he is successful.
Check out our review for BetOnline sports betting here.
Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales preview
Naoya Inoue is a relentless beast, plain and simple. The Japanese fighter has beat all comers in this weight class and several others, including Fulton last time out.
Inoue dominated that fight no matter how much Fulton tried to counter on the offensive. Now, the key for the Japanese fighter is his ability to get off shots and combinations from a multitude of angles. It did not matter how Fulton approached the fight. Inoue answered every question emphatically and by the eighth round, Fulton was praying for a merciful end.
His jab is sensational, his combinations are sharp and accurate and his power has carried up the weights for him too.
There lies little doubt that the overwhelming underdog could hang with Inoue at least for a while. Also, for what it is worth, Tapales has taken some incredible shots from some fierce fighters. The experience edge goes to the Southpaw who has 258 rounds in the tank but despite being only 31 he has been in some wars and it could all catch up to him.
The Filipino fighter can throw some hard left combinations from his southpaw stance, but his power hasn't transferred up the ranks like Inoue's has. Even when he beat Murodjon Akhmadaliev, there were grumblings that the fight was scored inaccurately and he is probably quite lucky to find himself in this position.
Now, can Tapales land enough bigger shots to keep Inoue at bay? Every time there is a belief this can happen, it is dashed fairly quickly. Tapales has the ability to throw at a good pace but this is a mountainous task for him to claim the win.
Boxing picks: Inoue to dominate @ -1400
Inoue is by far the best 122-pound fighter in the world, as proven with his fantastic stoppage win over Fulton last time out.
His speed was sensational as was his head movement, as he out-landed Fulton 114 to 47 in total punches and 70 to 24 in power punches by the time he landed the knockout punch in the 8th round per one report.
If Fulton couldn't hang with Inoue during the fight, then Tapales has got a puncher's chance at most. With the fight being in Japan too he will have the crowd advantage with them all backing him, and another knockout simply cannot be ruled out.
Tapales will have to be absolutely perfect for the entire fight and hope that Inoue has a very off night to be undisputed at the end of it, so back "The Monster" to get the job done in dominant fashion.
Check out our review for MyBookie sports betting here.
