I always thought Tapia was fun and very underrated, but I have to be honest, I love the clinical precision of Inoue here.
Tapia was a GREAT Lower Weight Fighter, But He Doesn't Pose Enough of a PUNCHING Threat to Beat Inoue @ ANY Weight, in REED's Opinion...Also, Tapia was Lured into EXCHANGES In Faaaaaaaaar toooooooo Many Bouts for REED to Pick Him Over Inoue, Who Would Be the Hardest Hitter "Mi Vida Loca" Ever Faced... Tapia Wins Rounds, Frustrates Inoue Early, But Loses By UD (More Than Likely) or Is Stopped Late...Out of 10, Tapia MIGHT Beat Inoue Twice (Razor Thin Decisions), if That...Bad Mix of STYLES for Tapia... REED
Yeah this is probably right. Inoue doesn't really have to be "careful" but that doesn't mean he just walk his man down and do whatever he wants. That's a recipe for getting out-landed and ultimately outpointed. Tapia also had a great chin so he's not going into a shell the moment he eats a good shot. Inoue still takes it for me because he's precise and hasn't showed major signs of impatience. Even if he can't get Johnny out of there, the power shots will get the attention of the judges. Tapia will realize very soon it's not Danny Romero he's in there against.
On a side note I wonder if Tapia was still around if somehow he would have ended up on an episode of Breaking Bad.
Inoue stops Tapia. Tapia is doing great in the rounds before that and making Inoue look very hittable but he'd just open up too much and get caught at the wrong time imo.
Inoue beats the crap outta Tapia at any weight. Johnny would at least put up a competitive fight at 115. At 118-122 it'd be a one sided fight.
