Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Luis Nery: “If Mike Tyson Can Lose His Unbeaten Record at Tokyo Dome, So Can Naoya Inoue!”

PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Apr 2024



Inoue-Nery undisputed junior featherweight showdown tops world title quadruple-header on Monday, May 6 at Tokyo Dome LIVE on ESPN+

EL PASO, Texas (April 23, 2024) — Mexican former two-division world champion Luis Nery is aware that the odds are stacked against him, but a major upset in Tokyo wouldn't be the first of its kind.

Nery will challenge pound-for-pound king Naoya "Monster" Inoue for the undisputed junior featherweight world championship on Monday, May 6 at the Tokyo Dome.

This will be the first boxing event at "The Big Egg" since February 1990, when James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson in the 10th round to capture the undisputed heavyweight crown in one of the sport's biggest upsets.

Inoue-Nery and three additional world title showdowns will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT.

In the co-feature, Australia’s Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his WBO bantamweight world title against former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs).

Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), Naoya's younger brother, will put his WBA bantamweight crown on the line against former world title challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs), and Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) will risk his WBA flyweight world title against Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 encounter.

Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) captured the WBC bantamweight world title by beating Shinsuke Yamanaka in August 2017, but lost it the following year after failing to make weight for their rematch. He moved up to junior featherweight, where he earned the WBC strap against Aaron Alameda in September 2020. The 29-year-old suffered his first loss in a unification showdown against WBA champ Brandon Figueroa in May 2021. Since that defeat, Nery has gone 4-0 with three knockouts, including a dramatic 11th-round stoppage of Azat Hovhannisyan last February in a Fight of the Year contender. Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs), a four-division world champion, looks to defend his undisputed crown after last year’s demolitions of unified world champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales.

Following a recent training session in El Paso, Texas, this is what Nery had to say:

“This is the highest stage one can reach as a fighter. It’s like soccer players who prepare their entire lives for a World Cup. It’s the same. This is bigger than being a world champion. It’s four belts. It’s undisputed."

“I’ve been wanting to fight him for about three years now. Fortunately, the opportunity has come, and we are taking it seriously. He is an elite fighter. He’s among the best fighters. He is fast. He is strong. But he has weaknesses, and he does take some punches."

“I’m the only one who can beat Inoue because I have good power, I can take punches, I have heart, and I’m willing to die in the ring. I’m a fighter who, above all, is a brawler. I like to brawl in the ring. But, I like to counter as well. If the fight allows for it, and if the fighter and the style allow for it, then I do it. I adapt to whatever style of fight I’m in to get the victory."

“I think that Inoue shouldn’t have taken this fight. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t have taken it. He has nothing to win by beating me. In fact, he has everything to lose. I have nothing to lose. I’m not a champion. I’m not at the top like him. I’m going for all the marbles. I'm coming with everything. I will take risks, and I'm willing to die in the ring.

“This is an important fight. It deserves to be in an arena that is just as important like the Tokyo Dome. And I think it’s a sign. If Mike Tyson can lose his unbeaten record there, then so can Naoya Inoue. Now, Mike Tyson was actually a monster. He for sure was an assassin. So, I’m happy that they made the fight at Tokyo Dome.”

“I will win by knockout. There’s no other way. I know that either he or I will be stopped. But I’m sure that he will be stopped.”



Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 166.8 LBS., MUNGUIA - 167.4 LBS.
    Sat, 04 May 2024
  • Jayson Mama to fight in East Timor
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 03 May 2024
  • Pacers Oust Bucks, Will Meet Knicks; New York Boots Out Philadelpia
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 03 May 2024
  • May 18: Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk UNDISPUTED Heavyweight Title Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV
    Fri, 03 May 2024
  • JARON ‘BOOTS’ ENNIS TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST CODY CROWLEY AT WELLS FARGO CENTER ON JULY 13
    Fri, 03 May 2024
  • Sanman to help Samal Paddlers in dragon boat
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 03 May 2024
  • 2024 Kiddies Chess Championships today
    By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 03 May 2024
  • Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Jaimie Mungia (Fight Analysis)
    By Ralph Rimpell, Fri, 03 May 2024
  • OSCAR DE LA HOYA AND GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO RETURN TO TURNING STONE FOR INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
    Fri, 03 May 2024
  • “Redemption Road: The Path Back to Glory” Debuts SUNDAY Ahead of Lomachenko-Kambosos Lightweight Title Showdown
    Fri, 03 May 2024
  • Star Boxing’s super welterweight contender Wendy Toussaint will travel to the Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, South Africa to take on Shervantaigh Koopman
    Fri, 03 May 2024
  • Labor Lakers play Kickstarter MLCG in Sanman on May 3
    By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 03 May 2024
  • DENNY VS. CASH LAUNCH PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    Thu, 02 May 2024
  • Nattapong Jankaew Prepares for Career-Defining Match Against Former Unified World Champion Marlon Tapales in WBC Regional Title Showdown
    Thu, 02 May 2024
  • Boston Routs Miami Anew, 118-84 to End Series at 4-1; Dallas Demolishes LA Clippers, Moves Ahead 3-2
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 02 May 2024