MANILA, Philippines — Kagaya ni Pinoy world super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales, handang-handa na rin si Japanese star “Monster” Naoya Inoue para sa kanilang unification championship fight bukas sa Tokyo, Japan.
Sa katunayan ay nakailang sparring na si Inoue sa mga kinuha nilang Mexican boxers.
“I’ve finished 116 sparring sessions with good Mexican partners,” wika ni Inoue. “That’s more than in preparation for my previous fight against Stephen Fulton last July.”
Itataya ng 30-anyos na si Inoue ang kanyang mga suot na World Boxing Organization (WBO) at World Boxing Council (WBC) titles.
Ang mga bitbit na World Boxing Association (WBA) at International Boxing Federation (IBF) belts naman ang isusugal ng 30-anyos na si Tapales.
“I’ve trained hard to refrain from overconfidence against Marlon Tapales and try to concentrate on training itself,” sabi ni Inoue sa kanyang training camp sa Ohashi Gym sa Yokohama, Japan.
Tangan ni Tapales ang 37-3-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 19 knockouts, habang bitbit ni Inoue ang malinis na 25-0-0 (22 KOs) card.
Hangad ni Inoue na maging unang Japanese boxer na nagkampeon sa dalawang weight division matapos maghari sa bantamweight class.
“I’m very highly motivated to win all the four championship belts. The winner can take all,” sabi ni Inoue na dalawang beses tinalo si Nonito ‘The Fillipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. para sa bantamweight crown noong 2019 at 2022.
Kung sakali ay si Tapales naman ang magiging kauna-unahang Pinoy na may hawak ng apat na world championship belts.