Things got off to a disastrous start. Yet they ended with a familiar finish as undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue responded well to early adversity – being caught clean and dropped for the first time in his career – to outsmart, bait and overwhelm two-division titlist Luis Nery through excellent punch placement on a memorable evening in Japan’s Tokyo Dome.
Inoue is human, after all!
R6, 1:22 — Naoya Inoue bt. Luis Nery via TKO, retains undisputed super-bantamweight world titles and improves to 27-0 (24 KOs)
- Inoue thanks crowd after historic night: “Thanks to everyone for coming to see my fight today, you guys give me so much power, first Tokyo Dome event in 34 years and I’m so happy to be here. I promise to keep you all excited.”
- Burying the hatchet! “I know there are some difficult feelings among Japanese boxing fans because of his past fights but I personally appreciate Nery, that’s why we shook hands post-fight,” Inoue addresses fans after Nery’s lifelong ban from Japan was lifted for this world title fight after failed drugs test, coming in overweight vs. Shinsuke Yamanaka in 2017-18
- What’s next? “I’ve been mandatory for over a year, fight me or vacate,” Inoue shakes hands with WBO, IBF mandatory challenger Sam Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs) in the ring, verbally agreed to defend his undisputed world titles a second time – unbeaten Australian come September
- Must-watch TV: All-time boxing great discussion resumes again for Inoue as pound-for-pound star scores another stoppage win – eighth on the spin – this time after responding well to adversity. Improves to 22-0 with 20 KOs in world title fights, having now beaten his 13th world champion
DEEMING him overrated, overconfident and ordinary in the build-up, Luis Nery spoke confidently about wanting to expose Naoya Inoue’s flaws.
It was shown in the pre-fight video package and given the stakes, felt like another case of deja vu after former champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales were soundly dethroned during a legacy-enhancing 2023 campaign for the home hero.
Nery got off to a dream start in the opening round, dropping the champion at the midway point with a counter left he didn’t see coming, just after throwing a left uppercut of his own. 25 others before him had tried, the legendary Nonito Donaire closest, but seeing him down stunned many to silence. Was another upset brewing?
He said afterwards that the knockdown happening provided him with good motivation, as if he needed any more. He didn’t remember what father-and-coach Shingo told him during the minute’s rest, nor did he need to – it was an early reminder that no-one is invincible and he remained focused until the clinical finish.
Did you know? Nery outlanded Inoue 15-8 in round one, snapping a 45-round consecutive streak where the Japanese had done that to his previous opponents.
It’s no wonder either as Inoue returned the favour to score his first knockdown with the exact same punch in round two, stepping back before punishing Nery as the Mexican needlessly overextended and met air with a power left hook near the ropes.
Trading 10-8 rounds to kick off a compelling clash inside the Tokyo Dome, 34 years after the last world championship fight from Japan’s 55,000-capacity indoor stadium, felt like a fitting start given the history here. Who would maintain their composure?
James ‘Buster’ Douglas recovered from an eighth-round knockdown to topple then-unbeaten unified heavyweight champion Mike Tyson with a R10 KO win back in February 1990 and any early fears of a similar upset eased as Inoue found his rhythm.
Finding his groove
Inoue executed his entries well and connected plenty with right hands in round three, splitting Nery’s high guard often. His ever-increasing success emboldened him to showboat at times in the fourth, goading the challenger to open up in centre ring, prodding and peppering his head while bobbing and weaving away from danger.
The fans were loving what they were watching, their superstar growing in confidence after a weary start and through 12 minutes, he’d already landed more than double Nery’s body punches too (24-10) as he mixed up attacks to stave off predictability.
Nery was becoming increasingly ragged and less risk-averse with his entries in the fifth, aware that he was being outworked. After the challenger was warned for leading with his head in close quarters, Inoue’s steely patience and skilful punch placement dropped him a second time, back against the ropes, with another left hook.
The visitor survived the count and returned to his corner, but even in the early part of round six as Inoue teed off on him with fast combos and made him miss, the end felt inevitable. A straight right hand dropped Nery through the ropes and referee Michael Griffin didn’t bother counting, waving it off to cap another damaging stoppage.
What’s next?
Uzbek former unified world champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1, 9 KOs) is ranked #1 with the WBA, but besides him and Goodman, it’s unlikely Inoue will remain at 122lbs much longer. The 31-year-old continues delivering exciting fights in the lighter weight divisions, which until a few years ago were deemed unattractive to watch.
John Riel Casimero (33-4-1, 22 KOs) began his career at flyweight and after losing two consecutive world level bouts, eventually perservered to become a three-division world champion. Now 35 though, it’s unlikely he’d be particularly competitive against Inoue four years on from their originally cancelled matchup due to COVID-19.
In recent weeks, Shawn Porter and now 2023 Hall of Fame inductee Tim Bradley have both voiced their opinion that to separate himself from his peers, Inoue must venture Stateside for future fights. Say what you want about patriotism and bias but they’re not alone sharing that view – though Inoue has more leverage at home.
“Being comfortable and protected at home is nice but come to America, we wanna see you with our own eyes. I’d love to see him move up and face the guys at 126lbs… it adds another layer.”
- Bradley on ESPN’s State of Boxing post-fight show
If ESPN’s Joe Tessitore is to be believed, earning eight-figure purse figures and being adored as the megastar across your home country is difficult to turn your back on.
Given his small 5ft 5in frame, it will be interesting to see how they handle things going forward. There will always be fresh challenges, new questions and criticism never far from surfacing as The Monster continues in such commanding fashion.
Hideyuki Ohashi, Inoue’s career-long promoter, told media in December they’re thinking about bigger venues to satisfy demand and naturally Saudi Arabia is an option – especially after ESPN’s interview with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh published today detailing plans to restructure boxing over the coming years.
Whether you’re waking up early to watch him box in the Western markets or fantasy booking his future at featherweight, one thing is crystal clear: the sport is richer for having talents like Naoya flying the flag, whether he’s in Japan or elsewhere.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via ESPN+ broadcast unless stated
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