The Filipino champ will face a big test either way.
Filipino boxing champion Marlon Tapales, who won the WBA and IBF world super bantamweight belts back in April against Uzbek fighter Murodjon Akhmadaliev, will be one interested observer when Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue get it on come Tuesday for the former’s WBO and WBC titles. And, apparently, he will be there watching live and in person.
That’s because he wants to fight whoever wins this potentially explosive title bout to be held in Japan.
“I want to send a message to the two fighters who will see me ringside,” Tapales told Boxing Scene. “Whoever wins has to go through me next.”
These are fighting worlds for the 31-year-old Filipino, who had already informed the WBA of his intent to unify all four belts at 122. The WBA greenlit Tapales’ ambitious bid, which means it won’t get in the way of the Filipino if and when he pursues a fight against the winner of Fulton-Inoue.
Tapales’ eagerness should come as no surprise. Already the WBA and IBF champion, the Filipino will get the chance to win all four major belts in the super bantamweight division—a feat that has never been accomplished in the division in the four-belt era. And it so happens that this division was once upon a time ruled by Filipino legends Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.
Donaire, incidentally, believes that Fulton has the slight edge over Inoue. Tapales thinks otherwise.
“I see the fight as a true 50/50 fight,” he said. “I think both fighters have their own strengths and weaknesses. However, I ultimately think Inoue finds a way to win.”
Either way, Tapales will be waiting.