From a detailed 3 part interview Inoue gave, 1st part was on Nov 27 & 2nd was 6 days before the fight. I used ChatGPT to translate, here are the excerpts: This time, the physical aspect will be put to the test. ──Well, we're just under a month away from the match (※interview conducted on November 27). Even if I don't ask, I can tell the atmosphere by looking at it. Inoue: Yes, that's right. It's going smoothly. ──I get the impression that it's different from the atmosphere of the previous time or the atmosphere of this time in the past. Inoue: That might be true. After all, the last time was my first super bantamweight match. I don't underestimate Tapales, but there's a different aura that I feel, or rather, the aura I'm emitting is different. ──In addition to thinking about the previous fight and former champion Stephen Fulton (America, WBC & WBO), in the super bantamweight, what about myself? I had to think about that. Inoue: Facing a fighter who has been in the super bantamweight division, there were too many unknowns, such as whether I could perform as usual or not. But this time, I somehow understand the process and how to condition myself until the match. I've only had one fight so far, but I've learned to some extent how to build the physique for this weight class. ──Confidence and ease in the mental aspect of being able to fight in the super bantamweight... Inoue: Yes, that's right. I have that confidence. And Tapales originally was in the bantamweight, like me, he moved up in weight class. So, there aren't as many unknowns as when I moved up here. ──Fulton's body was big, wasn't it, until the day before the match? But when I got into the ring, I didn't feel the "bigness" that I had in my impression until the day before. That's the mysterious part of boxing again. Inoue: I think there's an aura that you emit when you step into the ring. And even if it feels big at first, as you progress the fight advantageously, the sense of size can reverse. Manny Pacquiao (Philippines, former world champion in six weight classes) has felt that too, hasn't he? ──I see, I see, that's right. Inoue: But, I think this time is a test in terms of the physical aspect. In the Fulton fight, I thought that was the challenge or focus, but Fulton isn't a fighter who originally fights using his physicality. So, when I opened the lid, I couldn't really prove myself physically. ──It was a tactical battle of manipulating the distance. Inoue: Yes, that's right. I was expecting a more intense fight, like in clinch work. ──As usual, he didn't even allow the clinch. Inoue: So, in terms of fear, I think Tapales is much more formidable. Everything is felt when facing each other. ── Especially in the early stages. Inoue: Yes, that's right. ── Tapales is not a player who uses the ring widely like Fulton. He is a player who fights in the space right in front of him. For Inoue, how does it feel to face such a player? Is it easy or difficult? Inoue: It might be surprisingly not easy. With those types of players... ── Oh, is that so? Inoue: ...I feel that way (laughs). ── I've never thought about that even a millimeter (laughs). Inoue: The feet may be still, but players who dodge only with bodywork are unexpectedly... ── Tapales seems to be a player who processes things with small movements. Personally, I think it's easier to deal with such players. Inoue: Conversely, that might be the "pitfall" this time. If I fall into a pattern where I'm not doing well, I might become complacent with the distance there. Just because the distance is close, if I start throwing strong punches... there might be a pitfall waiting there. Maybe that's the case this time. ── Tapales seems like a player who wants to drag the fight into close quarters. Inoue: Yes. ── The basic style is to let the opponent throw punches in that space, and then counter with powerful strikes. Inoue: ... I haven't really formed a clear image of Tapales yet. ── Is that so? Which matches have you watched? Inoue: Mostly just highlights. I don't watch much, always. I haven't watched Fulton's fights in full either. ── Is that so? But you grasp it all in one round. Inoue: Because everything is felt there. After that, it's just about gathering information. I don't think I watch much footage anymore. ── Believe in what you feel. Inoue: I have a vague idea of Tapales's favorite punches and patterns. If I were to say something, I would want to be careful of the gap between the distance I imagine and the actual distance. ── Even though it looks like Tapales is taking punches, he actually has the skill to subtly nullify them with small movements. Inoue: Yes, that's right. He has quite a few unexpected small techniques. ── That's different from the image you had before. Inoue: I had an image that he was a rougher and more vulnerable player. But, originally, I haven't seen that much of him (laughs). ── I see, I see (laughs). On a scale of 1 to 10, how dangerous do you consider Tapales from Inoue's perspective? Inoue: Right now, I see him as a 10. ── Is that for any opponent? Inoue: Of course, I consider it as a 10. There's no need to consider it as a 7 or 8. I'm cautious with the maximum in my mind. But one thing I can say is that this match will have a tension greater than the Fulton fight. Especially in the first and second rounds. I think my approach will be different from the relaxed start in the Fulton fight, especially in the first round. ── I see. In the Fulton fight, throughout the match, Inoue's body actions were significant. But this time, Inoue's small movements and close-range fighting might come into play. Inoue: That's what I think. The rest depends on how Tapales approaches. How I adapt to that." https://theboxersworld.com/2023/12/19/【interview】世界２階級４団体統一戦直前！井上尚弥/ Shall post excerpts from part 2 in the next post
Excerpts from part 2: "After the Donaire match, the way I see and fight has changed. — Whether my movements are 'primary' or preventing the opponent from moving freely. Which do you think is more important? Inoue: First is to take control, but it's also about responding when the opponent comes a certain way. Instead of fitting my boxing style, it's more about containing and assembling against what the opponent presents. — More about understanding what the opponent wants, reading their psychology. Inoue: I think so, but I'm not really sure about that (laughs). — In the match with Fulton in July, watching as a third party, it was very clear. Breaking down what Fulton is thinking step by step. It feels completely different from before. In the past, whether in matches or sparring, there was always a sense of going to 'break' any opponent. Inoue: I think it was after the first fight with Fulton, or maybe after the first fight with Donaire (November 7, 2019). After gaining experience in my career, I can move the way I want to move in the match. Before that, what I had built up in training would come out spontaneously. That might be the difference. For example, in the fight with Omar Narvaez (Argentina) in December 30, 2014, all the knockdowns were with punches I had trained, but those weren't movements where I consciously thought about how to move. It was ingrained in my body. In those situations, there's inevitably tension, so your body moves differently from what you're thinking. — It's in the realm of instinct and senses. Inoue: It was instinct back then. What I had trained came out instinctively. But now, I can move the way I want to move. — These images of how you want to move come to you more and more during the match. Inoue: That's right, that's right. Images come up, and then I think about moving this way or that way. Even in the first fight with Donaire, I think I was instinctively moving despite not being able to see and having blood flowing. — Since that match ended. Inoue: That match gave me tremendous experiential knowledge. So from the next fight with Jason Moloney (Australia) on October 31, 2020, during the match, I could see the game in three dimensions. Before, I was doing it purely on instinct, focusing only on this (gesturing to the space in front of him with his hand) and thinking if I move like this, it might connect, a different sensation from before. — From the Moloney fight onward. Inoue: There were changes even in sparring, I think. — Has boxing become even more interesting? Inoue: Yes, the matches have become more interesting. So even in the Fulton fight, it was really fun, a slightly different sensation from before. Moving like this, connecting... Fulton has that kind of moving style, so there was room to think. With experience, what I see during the match has changed a bit." "Anyone would leap at it, right? It's like you understand everything the other person wants to do." Inoue: No, it's not like that. It's more about the sensation of knowing that I'm thinking properly and able to move. I can't predict perfectly what the other person is going to do or anything like that (laughs). First, there's my own movement, and then understanding how the other person is reacting to it, what they're thinking, and so on. I understand the other person from my perspective. Inoue: Well, sort of. I'm trying to read that. Always trying to grasp what the other person is feeling and what they're trying to do next. Even if in past matches, I was moving instinctively, I was still trying to read that aspect. ─ ─ I think it was very easy to understand how Fulton was being pushed into a corner psychologically, especially for the general public who have a hard time understanding the tactics. But this time, I think "strength" will be highlighted in the match. Inoue: But I think it will be a surprisingly technical match. ─ ─ Oh, I see. Inoue: So it depends on Tapales. But I have an image that it will be more of a technical fight than the Fulton fight. ─ ─ I see. It seems that Tapales may come with a surprise attack. Inoue: I think that's possible as well. So I want to be especially careful at the start of the first round. ─ ─ I think that all of your opponents from now on will be thinking, "I have to take him by surprise." But I am sure everyone will not be able to do so. You won't let them. Inoue: (nodding silently) ─ ─ You have entered the realm of greatness and are pushing forward, but are you still not there yet? Inoue: I'm not there yet. ─ ─ Is there anything you are lacking now? Inoue: It's not about where specifically, but about overall power, technique, and speed. I want to keep raising my overall level by 0.1. That's what I'm thinking about. https://theboxersworld.com/2023/12/20/【interview】世界２階級４団体統一戦直前！井上尚弥-2/ Part 3 is here: https://theboxersworld.com/2023/12/21/【interview】世界２階級４団体統一戦直前！井上尚弥-3/
