Naoya Inoue Vows to Stick Around Super Bantamweight Amidst Unification Thrill
Tokyo, Japan – December 24, 2023
In a surprising twist just days before his undisputed super bantamweight showdown with Marlon Tapales, Naoya Inoue has reassured fans and critics alike that he’s not packing his bags for the featherweight division anytime soon. The unified WBC/WBO titlist, currently hovering just four pounds away from the divisional limit, is adamant about extending his stay in the 122-pound realm until at least the end of 2024.
Speaking exclusively to BoxingScene.com, Naoya Inoue shared, “This isn’t the end of the road for me at super bantamweight. I still have more challenges, I want to take on in this division after dealing with [Tapales].”
It’s a statement that goes against the grain of Bob Arum’s vision, the Hall of Fame promoter whose Top Rank company manages Inoue in the U.S. Arum had toyed with the idea of a featherweight move, especially with the tantalizing prospect of a clash against the now-former WBO featherweight champion Robeisy Ramirez.
Inoue, the four-division champ from Yokohama with a flawless record of 25-0, first moved up from bantamweight due to the toll of making 118 pounds. The shift proved to be a masterstroke, culminating in a second-round knockout against Nonito Donaire, unifying the WBC, WBA, and IBF bantamweight titles. Despite brief unification glory, Inoue decided to vacate all the belts and aim for a fourth-divisional crown.
The 121.7-pound dynamo has been on a tear in the super bantamweight division, claiming the WBO title with an eleventh-round knockout of Paul Butler and then stunning the world with an eighth-round knockout of Stephen Fulton, unifying the WBO and WBC 122-pound titles.
As the boxing world braces for his clash with the Philippines’ Tapales (37-3, 19KOs) on Boxing Day, Naoya Inoue’s commitment to the super bantamweight scene is unwavering. In an unexpected twist, Manny Pacquiao, the legendary Filipino boxer, has been in Tapales’ corner, offering advice on how to tackle the formidable Inoue.
Naoya Inoue’s response to the whispers of a featherweight adventure? “If we both having this conversation a year from now, I consider myself still at super bantamweight.”
The Tokyo-based Ariake Arena is set for another historic night, as Inoue aims not only for victory but to cement his legacy in the 122-pound division, a journey that fans worldwide will be eagerly watching unfold on Boxing Day.
