There’s going to be a major observer at ringside when Naoya “Monster” Inoue attempts to become a two-belt world super-bantamweight titlist on 25 July at the Saitama Arena in Japan.
Inoue battles Stephen Fulton for the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization 122-lb belts and is heavily favored to snatch them away in impressive fashion.
Marlon Tapales, the country’s lone reigning world champion, will be there in the hopes of seeing a winner so the two of them could end up facing off for all the four belts before the year comes to a close.
Tapales reigns as the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion.
Last April, he stunned Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev in San Antonio, Texas, to become a two-belt titleholder, a feat that is rare among Filipino boxers.
It has been reported that whoever wins will next face Tapales.
But a victory by Inoue will be easier to arrange since there has been prior commitment between the Japanese’s camp and Tapales’ official representatives led by Sean Gibbons.
That had already been forged even before Tapales battled Akhmadaliev in Texas a few months ago.
I should know because I was at ringside for that fight.
So when Tapales scored an upset, he had also secured a crack at Inoue provided that Inoue would take care of business with Fulton six days from today.
Obviously, Tapales’ handlers are excited to get that chance at beating Inoue, who is regarded today as one of the best in the world regardless of weight.
But until Inoue puts Fulton away, that mouth-watering matchup remains up in the air.
You know, boxing is full of surprises.
Who would have thought that James “Buster” Douglas would knock Mike Tyson out in 1990?
Strange things have sprouted on top of the ring for over a century.
I will be foolish to dismiss Fulton although the generally accepted prognosis is that Inoue will use Fulton to sweep the floor on fight night.
Personally, Fulton will have his hands full against a killer like Inoue.
My advice is this.
Fulton better carry a concealed weapon for him to boost his chances of winning.
If he doesn’t do that, he better start thinking about a Plan B or a fallback as Inoue is going to level him to the ground.
But then again.
I could be wrong.
As I have said, boxing is the theater of the unexpected.
