Takuma Inoue will miss his first world title bout against WBO bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales of the Philippines with a right fist injury, Ohashi gym announced Saturday.
Inoue, 20, was hurt during a sparring session and will need surgery, according to the gym. Inoue, along with his older brother and the WBO super flyweight champion Naoya, was scheduled to take the ring as part of a world tripleheader at Ariake Coliseum on Dec. 30.
"It's disappointing but I've made the decision as he's only 20 and has his whole future ahead of him," said Hideyuki Ohashi, the gym's chairman.
Inoue has an 8-0 record with two knockouts, mainly in the super flyweight category, while Tapales is 29-2 with 12 KOs.
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