Tapales bares taking advice from Donaire ahead of Inoue showdown

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing champion Marlon Tapales said he has received some words of wisdom from the man who had shattered Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue’s aura of invincibility.

To this day, Tapales, who will unify the IBF and WBA belts with the WBC and WBO straps held by Inoue on December 26 at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, still considers Filipino boxing legend Nonito Donaire Jr. as Inoue’s toughest opponent.

It can be recalled that Donaire — a four-division world champion — gave the unbeaten Inoue (25-0, with 22 KOs) a run for his money the first time they met in 2019. Even though the Japanese sensation still ended up with a hard-earned unanimous decision win, Donaire was able to deal some damage to Inoue, including a cut to his eye.

Inoue eventually figured Donaire out and knocked him out in just the second round of their 2022 rematch.

Speaking to Manila-based scribes a few weeks ago from his Baguio training camp, Tapales said that Inoue who fought Donaire twice was the best version of the Japanese banger.

And on Monday during a media workout at the Elorde Plus Gym in BF Homes, Paranaque, the 31-year-old Filipino southpaw (37-3, with 19 KOs) maintained the same stance, saying he has even talked with Donaire, who gave him some precious tips to succeed against Inoue.

“Huwag lang kumpyansa (don’t be overconfident and) of course, train hard,” Tapales recalled Donaire telling him when they spoke shortly after he defeated Murodjon Akhmadaliev to annex the twin titles he now holds — which made the Inoue unification inevitable.

Donaire, according to Tapales, also underscored the importance of defense against the heavy-handed Inoue.

“Taas lagi ang kamay (keep your hands up),” Tapales also remembered Donaire telling him.

A heavy underdog against Inoue, who is ranked 1-2 in many boxing experts’ pound-for-pound list, Tapales reiterated not paying attention to the odds.

He said that he has a big advantage over most of Inoue’s previous opponents.

“Sa tingin ko hindi ako takot sa ring (I think I’m not afraid whenever I’m in the ring),” said Tapales, hell-bent on becoming the first Filipino boxer to unify the four major titles.