The fight had a welcomed surprise! None other than Jimmy Lemmon Jr. performed the opening honors introducing Tapales and Inoue for their undisputed fight.
Prior to the actual bout, Naoya Inoue weighed in at 121.5 lbs. Marlo Tapales weighed in at 121.3 lbs suggesting that neither fighter struggled to make the weight and that Tapales may be seeking to avoid some powershots and was happy to be slightly faster and more nimber for the bout.
Round by round playback. In this bout, the referree was US based Celestino Ruiz.
Round 1
Within the first 30 seconds, Inoue threw a fair body shot. Inoue also appeared to drop his hands either as a faint or to relieve the tension. Either way, the shots were quick and decisive. Tapales at southpaw was exposed to a quick and straight right. However, Tapales was able to connect a backhand straight into Inoue’s face. Inoue’s decisive jabs and now increasingly frequent body tell us that he can slow down Tapales. The variation in Inoue’s attack is great. Technically, this is a feel out round, bu there has been limited action from Tapales and decisive action from Inoue. Inoue takes this round.
Round 2
Explosive 1-2 sequences from Inoue have landed both to the head of Tapales and to the body. One can like that the Inoue was able to keep a rangey distance, but still land great offensive shots. Tapales has overreached at times with a pawing jab that lands at times to the body. The foot positioning competition is difficult for Tapales since Inoue can nudge him wherever he wants. Inoue lands a straight right and hook. His speed is impressive at this weight.
Round 3
Although, the last two rounds have been won by Inoue, this is not a blowout. Tapales is giving a good account of himself. A shot that landed in the first round has now been looped to the body, pushing the naturally smaller Inoue back into the ropes. Tapales does not take the bait, fearing a counter and they return to the center of the ring. Once again, Tapales presses and is able to catch Inoue, landing now a three punch combination to the body and head! This may be a Tapales round with several shots to the body pushing back Inoue.
Round 4
Inoue could be caught with that running attack. A high guard from Tapales has served him well at times. Inoue now loops his body shots and uses tremendous head movement to avoid most of Tapales attack, but Tapales is showing massive potential. This Tapales is just not as fast as Inoue. In fact, Inoue is not dropping his hands enough for a Tapales shot to get through to the head.
Wow! Inoue is able to expose the holes Tapales permitted and drops him after pummelling first the body and then proving that he’s stronger. Great knockdown from a left hand after Tapales gets aggressive.
Round 5
Tapales is guarding himself well, but is receiving too many shots as a sitting target. Tapales’ high guard doesnt let him see any of the shots coming. He countered to save himself well and Inoue is momentarily pushed back. Nice upper from Tapales! I think that may have hurt Tapales or caught his attention. He throws an upper and body shot combination. Very nice.
Both of these guys look somewhat tired from both the offensive attack received and dished out. It’s amazing Tapales has broken the guard of Inoue with those uppers. His arsenal has kept him in this fight.
Round 6
Tapales is able to back Inoue to the ropes again. Tapales is able to land jabs and consequential body shots. Inoue is having much of his offense blocked, but an occasional counter jab and hook goes around the guard of Tapales. Many of his own uppers now land as part of combinations. The body shot remains something Tapales permits to get through from Inoue.
Round 7
Tapales has started to lean in on his power jab. At times, he can connect that with a nice backhand straight left on Inoue. Inoue. has landed combinations. Including a right left combination that is marking up Tapales’ face. Even though Inoue is winning this fight and pivoting nicely etc., its hard to discount Tapales ability to remain dangerous. Tapales has changed his guard a bit to see the shots better. Its serving him well.
Round 8
Tapales is able to see more of the Inoue attack and counter more effectively. His jab is better. When he opens up, Inoue is looking to land something. Inoue thinks alot more and measures distance quickly enough to catch Tapales at times with a backhand. Those Tapales jabs are able to push Inoue back. The power of Tapales has kept him in the bout. This bout may go the distance simply from Tapales acclimating to Inoue’s power and technique while also pushing him back with his own shots. Still, Inoue lands uppers and counters per usual.
Round 9
Inoue has adjusted to Tapales’s new guard and can measure the distance to connect to his face. Since this a bit out of range, the power is not there. Yet. However, Tapales’ jab is constant and Tapales can counter but does not do so frequently. Enough Inoue backhands are landing to easily declare this an Inoue round.
Round 10
Tapales wants to be on the front foot. A counter hook served him well in the past round, but his peekaboo guard is not permitting him to be effective. Inoue is landing his own shots with more power. A straight right in this very stance is what lands. Wow! Inoue lands a straight right that drops Tapales who can not beat the count.