The betting odds for next week’s unification fight between Marlon Tapales and Naoya Inoue remain unchanged.
Unless Inoue starts to look pale and gaunt in the press conference and official weigh-in, it doesn’t look as if his lofty billing is going to change.
Currently, the Japanese pound-for-pound star is listed as -1600 ($1600 wins $100) and Tapales as +800 ($100 wins $800).
Inoue’s stature as a four-division champion, former undisputed bantamweight champion and freakish power is the reason behind this seemingly outlandish prognosis.
Dubbed as “Monster” Inoue will be dangling his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization straps while Tapales will be putting his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation belts in their scheduled 12-rounder at the Ariake Arena on Tuesday night.
Even the most highly-discriminating experts don’t believe the Filipino southpaw stands a chance against the dynamite-fisted Inoue, who will be attempting to become an undisputed titleholder for the second time.
But Tapales and his team, though acknowledging Inoue’s superior strength, are convinced an upset is not a far-fetched idea.
“Marlon’s ready,” JC Mananquil, Tapales, promoter reported from Yokohama yesterday afternoon.
“Everything is right on track,” Mananquil added three days after their arrival in Japan.
In the event of a Tapalese triumph, he will become the first Filipino fighter to capture an undisputed championship, a feat that escaped even the great Manny Pacquiao.
Meanwhile, Tapales and Inoue face off during a press conference on Christmas Eve.
Another staredown takes place on Christmas Day for the weigh-in.
