Naoya “Monster” Inoue imported a second batch of Mexican sparring partners as his preparation for the unification showdown with Filipino Marlon Tapales on 26 December in Tokyo intensified.
After a month with Erik Robles and Jose Angel Garcia, Inoue recently brought in Jose Salas Reyes and Christian Cruz Chacon.
Reyes is just 21 years old and packs a 14-0 win-loss record with 10 knockouts while Chacon is 26 and parades a 21-6-1 slate with 11 knockouts.
With a little over a month before Inoue and Tapales battle for all the major belts at the Ariake Arena, both fighters are entering the most crucial stage of their respective buildups.
Tapales is also ramping up his sparring in Baguio City where he will be staying up until he departs for Tokyo not later than a week before fight night.
The heavy betting favorite, Inoue will enter the ring armed with a 25-0 record with 22 knockouts while Tapales will bring in a 37-3 ledger with 19 knockouts.
In the event Tapales scores an upset, he will become the first Filipino fighter to win an undisputed crown, a feat not even the legendary Manny Pacquiao was able to pull off.
Inoue will dangle his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles while Tapales will put his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation crowns on the line.
