All or nothing

There’s only one Filipino reigning as world boxing champion today and he’s risking everything to become the undisputed 122-pound champion. Five titles will be at stake when Marlon Tapales battles Naoya Inoue at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Tuesday. Tapales wears the WBA and IBF superbantamweight straps while Inoue holds the WBC and WBO belts.

Tapales’ manager JC Manangquil said the goal is to bring home five belts, including The Ring Magazine version which is for universal recognition. “I know Marlon will beat Inoue,” said Manangquil. “Marlon is very hungry.  Not only (does) Marlon have the speed and power to do it. Marlon’s ring IQ and timing are very underrated. Marlon will use those in the fight.”

With Dave Apolinario relinquishing his IBO flyweight crown to go for the WBA title next year, Tapales is the sole Filipino survivor in the global landscape. If he beats Inoue, Tapales will make history as no Filipino has ever gained recognition as an undisputed champion. Not even Manny Pacquiao was able to do it although he’s the only fighter ever to win world titles in eight weight divisions. Pacquiao fought Agapito Sanchez with the IBF and WBO superbantamweight titles on the line in 2001. The fight ended in a technical draw. In 2004, he took on Juan Manuel Marquez with the WBA, IBF and The Ring featherweight belts at stake but the scrap wound up a split draw. In 2008, Pacquiao beat Marquez for the WBC and The Ring superfeatherweight belts and a year later, knocked out Ricky Hatton for the IBO and The Ring superlightweight titles. In 2015, Pacquiao lost to Floyd Mayweather with the WBO, WBA, WBC and The Ring welterweight championships on the line. Only the IBF title was not at stake in the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout.

If Tapales bows to Inoue, the Philippines will end the year without a world champion. So his gamble is all or nothing. MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons is now in Tokyo with the Tapales entourage and said this will be the Filipino’s Marco Antonio Barrera moment, referring to Pacquiao’s demolition of the Mexican legend to shock the world in 2003.