Inoue vs Tapales Odds Preview: The Monster Devours Another Victim
Inoue Marches Towards Second Undisputed Title in 12 Months
Inoue Heavily Favored to Become Undisputed Again
Naoya Inoue will finish 2023 as he finished 2022, as the undisputed champion. This time, he’s gunning for the undisputed super bantamweight title as he takes on fellow unified champion Marlon Tapales.
The Filipino is familiar with being an underdog and fighting on enemy territory. But with all due respect to him, he’s going to get smashed. That’s what the Inoue vs Tapales odds expect as the Japanese superstar is a whopping -2000 favorite.
🥊 Naoya Inoue vs Marlon Tapales 🥊
Records: Naoya Inoue (C) (25-0-0, 22 KOs) vs Marlon Tapales (C) (37-3-0, 19 KOs)
Day/Time:
Location: Ariake Arena, Tokyo, Japan
Title: Undisputed Super Bantamweight Championship (122 lbs.)
Tapales’s Chances Nil Against Godzilla
It sounds like a joke to suggest that Inoue at -2000 is a discounted line. The implied probability has Inoue winning 95.2% of the time. If we break it down, Tapales’s only shot at winning is to hit a Hail Mary knockout. Those gutsy enough to bet Tapales should just bet him to knock Inoue out at +1200. This is a better deal than a straight-up win at +850.
But as Godzilla sinks destroyers and burns down skyscrapers, Inoue will eviscerate Tapales. The “Monster” has the advantage in almost every facet: speed, athleticism, and size. He’s also more skilled, proficient, and patient. Tapales is too hittable and does his best work when he’s moving forward. That’s a recipe to get knocked out.
“I believe I have a good chance of winning because I trained real hard for this fight,” Tapales told Rappler. “Most likely, somebody will fall. It’s either him or me. Inoue may be the favorite, but with my training and preparation, I think I would be able to hurdle him. I have no fear.”
Tapales has proven boxing predictions wrong just recently. He edged Murodjon Akhmadaliev as a +350 underdog in their last bout. And given his power, he may be Inoue’s toughest opponent since Nonito Donaire, who broke Inoue’s orbital bone in their first bout.
If Tapales backs up his talk, the best bet here could be for the total to go under 6.5 rounds. Either Tapales finds that punch or he goes down trying. Given the Inoue vs Tapales odds , it’s most likely going to be the latter.
Is Inoue the Next Manny Pacquiao?
Inoue gets better every fight. He’s even drawn heavy praises from the greats including the legend he’s being likened to: Manny Pacquiao. The eight-division world champion even offered to help train Inoue if he continues to move up in weight. Surely, Inoue will eye the featherweight division if he becomes an undisputed champion at super bantamweight.
The Inoue vs Tapales odds expect it. And champions from the 126-pound division and up are already setting their sights on the Monster.
Luis Alberto Lopez, the IBF featherweight champion, said he’s watching the Inoue-Tapales fight with much anticipation. Inoue also sparred with WBA champion Leigh Wood and said he “felt his power.” And the interim WBC champion, Brandon Figueroa, said he would “love to fight Inoue.”
Indeed, if Inoue moves up and wins a title, he’d be the sixth men’s boxer to win titles in five weight classes. The last two to do it are Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. And many are already rating Inoue better than Pacquiao.
Looking at the boxing stats : Inoue already has a ridiculous 88% knockout-to-win ratio. And what’s even scarier is how Inoue does not chase knockouts nor is he considered a power puncher. He’s a technician who will break his opponents down and finish them.
That is a combination of Pacquiao and Mayweather. The former is like a buzzsaw whose prolific pressure-boxing style led to exciting wins. And the latter schooled opponents with his deft tactics and near-unhittable movements.
Inoue is a treat for watching and betting on boxing . Enjoy him now as he continues his rapid ascent.
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