Less than two weeks before they clash for all the marbles, Filipino pride Marlon Tapales and Japanese icon Naoya Inoue flexed their amazing physiques to show their readiness for their 26 December showdown at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo.
As he gets ready to cap his training camp in Baguio City, Tapales looked on track in making the super-bantamweight division limit of 122 lbs.
Over in Japan, Inoue, nicknamed “Monster,” appeared ripped and ready to go, his six-pack looking solid as a rock.
Tapales will dangle his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation straps while Inoue will risk his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts.
The winner becomes an undisputed champion, an accolade that even many legendary fighters, including Manny Pacquiao, were unable to achieve during their heyday.
Meanwhile, Tapales will motor down from the City of Pines on Sunday as he and his team prepare for their departure for Tokyo on Tuesday.
They set up camp there in early-November after spending the first half of the buildup in Las Vegas.
On Monday afternoon, Tapales, a southpaw, will host an open workout at the Elorde Plus in B.F. Homes, Parañaque.
On 20 December, Tapales will do an open workout for the Japanese media at the Ohashi Gym in Yokohama.
The press conference then takes place on Christmas Eve and the official weigh on Christmas Day, both affairs starting at 1 p.m.
Both events will be staged at the ballroom of the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers.
Inoue, armed with a 25-0 win-loss card with 22 knockouts, is the heavy betting favorite owing to his solid and unbeaten record.
Toting a seemingly 37-3 ledger with 19 knockouts, Tapales has vowed to pull off a mighty upset and become the Philippines’ first undisputed titleholder.
Top Rank is putting up the Tapales-Inoue clash in close coordination with Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda.
