By Joe Koizumi
Photos by Naoki Fukuda

Unbeaten “Monster” Naoya Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), 121.75, impressively retained his undisputed super bantamweight belts when he survived a first round visit to the deck, knocked down Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs), 121, back in rounds two and five, and finally scored a bad knockdown again to cause the referee’s well-received intervention at 1:22 of the sixth round on Saturday at Tokyo Dome, Japan. It was truly a give-and-take affair that fully entertained the huge crowd and oversees streaming viewers as well. Some 43,000 spectators were in attendance at the Dome.

The Tokyo Dome had been used for boxing events just twice—for the Mike Tyson versus Tony Tubbs bout at the Dome opening ceremony in 1988 and for the historical upset of Tyson’s shocking defeat by James Buster Douglas in 1990. In thirty-four years since it was “Monster” Inoue that opened the Dome’s door for a boxing promotion, though Naoya wasn’t Madonna, Michael Jackson or Taylor Swift (who lately performed four days straight at the Dome this February).

In the first round, Inoue, 31, looked too eager to demonstrate his very best performance when he began to throw a big opening shot as if he wished to finish Luis Nery, 29, with a single shot. The thick-bearded Mexican being welcomed by loud booing of the audience because of his previous overweight scandal six years ago, he stayed cautious to feel out the champ Inoue’s strategy.

Midway in round one Naoya landed a left uppercut to the chin of Nery in the close range. Pantera quickly countered with a solid southpaw left hook, surprisingly having the champ fall down sideways. It’s a shocking scene that the crowd might not expected in the opening session. But it was the challenger Nery that scored such an unexpected knockdown of Monster Inoue.

Pantera attempted to finish the champ then and there to bring home the bacon to Mexico soon. But Monster cleverly clinched and covered himself up, sometimes countering the aggressor with short punches. And the bell came to his rescue.

Naoya, after the fight, said, “I always do mental rehearsals on the bed before I fall asleep. I imagine various situations in the ring, for example, that I should take a big shot and get knocked down. Then, I imagine what I should do after I regain my foot.” He might follow such visualization training now at the crisis.

Naoya also reflected his very first visit to the deck throughout his amateur and professional career, saying, “In the first round I might be too much motivated on this first appearance at the huge Dome. It’s just a flash knockdown. No damage. The knockdown made me wake up instead.”

His manager/promoter Hideyuki Ohashi then thought, “I was greatly shocked as if I was frightened to death.”

His father/trainer then said to his son after the unexpected first round, “Don’t worry. Let’s re-establish the fight with your jabs.” Naoya followed Dad’s instructions.

Monster Naoya, in round two, cautiously threw stinging jabs to Nery so that he would not recklessly come into his range. The game Mexican, however, came forward to attack the champ, who countered with a short but solid left hook to the face. Down went Pantera. Though he resumed fighting, Monster kept his composure and didn’t so harshly attacked the challenger.

Naoya, after the fight, reflected, “I was calculating the scores. In the first I lost a 10-8 round, and I won back a 10-8 round to make it even now.” He became cool enough to be good at arithmetic.

Papa Shingo kept giving his suggestion, saying “Keep jabbing. Don’t forget.”

The tide obviously turned in favor of Monster in round three. He landed a sharp left-right combination to Pantera with precision. Nery took the solid shots but withstood the damage and was still willing to mix up with the champ.”

The fourth saw Naoya completely regain his usual rhythm and judgement of distance. He was showboating as he moved to the right, swinging a roundhouse shot from that position—to intimidate the challenger. It became a mental fight. Having his guard high, Nery blocked Naoya’s stinging lefts and patiently looked for openings for his favorite sudden attack. But it was obvious Nery was outpunched by Inoue mostly with his stinging jabs.

Having swept three rounds from the second on, Naoya turned aggressive in round five, when he connected with a countering short left hook to the face. Nery hit the deck again. The champ went for a kill, but the challenger showed his heart as he withstood his attack and fought back hard. But their difference in precision was obvious since Inoue was more accurate and his punches were more damaging than Pantera.

Papa Shingo said to his son, “Don’t rush for a finish. Just punch precisely.”

Round Six witnessed an end of the dramatic bout. Inoue went forward with accurate and effective jabs, and connected with a right uppercut followed by a vicious right. Down went Nery with his back to the ropes. Referee Michael Griffin (Canada) declared a halt without counting to the fallen challenger.

The crowd burst into roar with joy at the Dome. A sound of a great cheer echoed inside the Dome as Monster sent the crowd into a frenzy.

What Inoue displayed this night was none other than resilience. Like Archie Moore against Yvon Durelle in 1958. Also his showmanship was displayed in round four, when he, like an actor, threw very roundhouse right crosses to take an intimidating attitude. Naoya explained, “That’s to show Nery I have already taken back the initiative. To show I’m the boss. It’s a strategy.” Hanging both hands low to invite Nery to come out fighting, Inoue sometimes demonstrated his favorite showboating to the audience—like Roy Jones Jr.

Now Inoue registered eight wins in a row by knockouts in world title bouts, which shows he power punching prevailed against such highly regarded opponents as Stephen Fulton, Marlon Tapales, Paul Butler, Nonito Donaire, Jason Moloney, etc.

In the end of the TV interview in the ring, there appeared the IBF#1 and WBO#1 unbeaten Sam Goodman of Australia at a good timing, and Naoya said to the crowd on the microphone, “Most probably I’ll fight Goodman in September.” His promoter Ohashi admitted the plan either in Tokyo or in Yokohama.

The good loser Nery, who fought well, was immediately moved to a hospital by cancelling his post-fight interview. He looked to have absorbed much punishment. People here love strong boxers, so we might pardon Luis Nery for his previous mistake with this good performance (because he became the very first man to floor Monster Inoue and displayed such a good fight). The crowd truly praised his best effort against Monster.

Ohashi revealed his future plan on Monster, saying, “Naoya will fight twice this year in September and in December as well.”

The official tallies—Benoit Roussel (Canada), Jose Roberto Torres (Puerto Rico) and Adam Height (Australia)–were quite identical 48-44 all in Naoya’s favor, giving only the first to Nery (10-8) and the following four (10-8 twice) to Inoue.

The best ringside seat was 220,000 Yen (some 1,500 US dollars), while the lowest general admission was 11,000 Yen (some 73 USD). No one claimed the ticket prices were too expensive thanks to watching such an interesting see-saw affair. They had money’s worth.

In the end, this reporter would like to talk about the pound-for-pound ratings. I personally believe it is nonsense to compare boxers at different weight classes. Why can we compare Terrence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez and Inoue? All are excellent boxers at our time. Crawford is more versatile both at offense and defense, Canelo is more tight in defense and exciting in coping with taller opponents with his power and skills, and Inoue is a more killer than Crawford and Canelo, willing to finish his foe from the beginning. Naoya seems to be mentally obliged to knock out his opponent once he climbs up to the squared circle. Monster is like Mike Tyson, Wilfredo Gomez or Terrible Terry McGovern. And, Naoya is more comical than Terrence and Canelo.

Naoya also boasts of his skills in punching without taking punishment. In this regard, his next defense against Sam Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs), an excellent technician, will provide him with a contest where Monster will prove how skillful he is.

Promoter: Ohashi Promotions in association with Top Rank and Teiken Promotions.

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