Naoya Inoue Defends Championship By Stopping Luis Nery
Tensions were high at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan as Naoya “Monster” Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) put the undisputed junior featherweight titles on the line against WBC mandatory challenger Luis “Pantera” Nery (35-2, 27 KOs).
Coming into the contest, Inoue has been considered one of the elite fighters in the sport. A four-division champion, the 31-year-old has dominated the lower-weight divisions. But he faced a Nery who had talked his fair share of smack and gave little deference to the defending champion. A two-division world title holder, the challenger was desperate to win a third world title.
FIREWORKS EARLY
This battle got off to a cracking start. With a minute to go in the opening round, Nery sent shockwaves throughout the Tokyo Dome after a left uppercut put Inoue down on his knees. But the champion rallied and put Nery on the mat with a counter left hook in the final minute in round two.
Rounds three through five saw Inoue in complete control. He tattooed Nery with combinations up and downstairs. With thirty seconds to go in the fifth, Monster put Nery down for a second time with yet another left hook to the chin.
You could tell the end was near, as Nery couldn’t keep up with the speed of the Japanese superstar. At the halfway mark of round six, the Tokyo crowd roared in cheers as Inoue finished matters by depositing Nery for a third and final time with a devastating right-hand/right uppercut combination.
It has to rank as one of the most satisfying wins of Inoue’s career. Next up for undisputed champion is likely Australia’s Sam Goodman, ranked number one by the IBF and WBO at 122.
Be the first to comment