FILE – Marlon Tapales hits the heavy bag at Form-Up Boxing Health club in Baguio Metropolis.–MARK GIONGCO/INQUIRER.web
MANILA, Philippines–“The Monster” doesn’t scare Marlon Tapales. Not one bit.
Eight days earlier than Tapales’ undisputed tremendous bantamweight showdown in opposition to Naoya Inoue at Ariake Area in Tokyo, Japan, the Filipino two-belt champion believes there’s one huge factor that separates him from the Japanese’s earlier opponents.
“I’ve no concern,” Tapales (37-3, 19KOs) mentioned after a media exercise Monday afternoon in Paranaque.
“That’s a bonus I believe as a result of most of his opponents received intimidated simply,” he added.
Tapales, who holds the WBA (Tremendous) and IBF titles, is a heavy underdog in opposition to the undefeated high pound-for-pound fighter immediately.
Marlon Tapales. Photograph from Sanman Boxing Fb
However that’s the least of his worries having been an underdog all through his profession.
“I don’t care concerning the odds,” mentioned Tapales, the satisfaction of Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
“I’ve been an underdog all my life. I’ve fought on my opponent’s dwelling soil and I’ve dealt with them nicely.”
That’s been his mentality ever since. Tapales wasn’t anticipated to emerge victorious in his earlier bout the place he upset Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev by cut up resolution final April in San Antonio to say the 2 belts.
The 31-year-old Tapales, who held camp in Las Vegas earlier than relocating to Baguio Metropolis, leaves for Japan on Tuesday decided to make boxing historical past for the Philippines by turning into the nation’s first undisputed champion.
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