Highlights
- Naoya Inoue secures victory after early scare, showcasing dominance and resilience in the fight against Luis Nery.
- Nery’s impressive record falls short against Inoue, who maintains his undefeated streak with skill and speed.
- Inoue’s strategic advantage and knockdowns prove too much for Nery, leading to a decisive knockout in the sixth round.
Naoya Inoue successfully defends his undisputed super-bantamweight championship against Luis Nery at the prestigious Tokyo Dome in Japan. The Japanese superstar improves his record to 27-0 with 24 knockouts. In the battle, he knocked down Nery three times and dominated the tough Mexican after surviving an early knockdown in the first round.
Nery boasts a remarkable record as a two-weight world champion, claiming both the WBC and Ring magazine bantamweight titles from 2017 to 2018, and later securing the WBC super bantamweight title from 2020 until May 2021. However, his career faced a setback in 2018 when he was stripped of his bantamweight world title due to a weight issue ahead of a fight in Japan. This incident led to an indefinite ban by the Japan Boxing Commission, preventing him from competing in the country until this year, when the ban was finally lifted.
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Both Naoya Inoue and Luis Nery stand at 5 feet 5 inches tall, but Inoue holds a notable two-and-a-half-inch reach advantage. Both fighters easily made weight for the junior featherweight division limit of 122 pounds at the official weigh-in held yesterday.
Naoya Inoue vs. Luis Nery Round By Round
The Monster Dominated His Opponent After An Early Scare
In the opening round, Naoya Inoue and Luis Nery engage in a spirited exchange before the Mexican delivers a punishing hook that sends the Japanese champion to the canvas for the first time in his career. Despite the setback, Inoue appears to recover by the round’s end.
Moving into the second round, both fighters trade jabs, with Nery seeking to replicate his earlier success. However, it’s Inoue who turns the tables, scoring a knockdown as Nery lunges forward.
By the third round, Inoue seems to have found his rhythm, landing stiff left hands and outmaneuvering his opponent.
In the fourth round, Inoue capitalizes on his superior speed, punishing Nery for his aggressive approach and dominating the exchanges. Despite showing signs of damage, Nery remains resilient, pressing forward and attempting to engage on the inside. Inoue lands another left hook, sending Nery to the canvas once more, but the Mexican survives the round.
In the sixth round, Nery continues to struggle against Inoue’s speed and power before succumbing to a devastating knockout, bringing an end to the contest.
