Official Match Announcement: Naoya Inoue to Compete for the Undisputed Championship

Naoya Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs), the former undisputed world champion in the super flyweight division and WBC/WBO world champion in the bantamweight division (up to 122 lbs), is set to face Marlon Tapales (37-3, 19 KOs), the reigning WBA and IBF champion in the same division.

This highly-anticipated showdown between the 30-year-old Japanese sensation and the 31-year-old Filipino champ will determine the undisputed world champion. The fight is scheduled for December 26 at the Ariake Arena in Japan.

In his last bout, Inoue made a remarkable debut in the bantamweight division by claiming victory over Stephen Fulton with a knockout in the eighth round. Meanwhile, Tapales has secured three knockout wins in his last four matches, most notably defeating Murodjon Akhmadaliev in his latest appearance in the spring of 2023.