WBC Special Preview: Inoue Vs. Nery
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship
Undisputed 122 Lbs. Championship
May 6, 2024 / Tokyo, Japan / Tokyo Dome
OHASHI PROMOTION, in association with TEIKEN PROMOTIONS, PRESENTS:
NAOYA “Monster” INOUE (Japan)
WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion, 2nd defense
Former WBC Bantamweight World Champion, 1 Title Defense
Former WBC Light Flyweight World Champion, 1 Title Defense
Age: 31 / Date of birth: April 10, 1993
Residence, birthplace: Zama, Kanagawa, Japan
Record: 26-0, 23 KOs / Total rounds: 156 / World championship fights: 21-0, 19 KOs
Height: 5’5” – 165cm / Reach: 67.5” – 171cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Sayuri Ohashi / Trainer: Shingo Inoue
LUIS “Pantera” NERY (Mexico)
Ranked WBC No. 1 at Super Bantamweight / Mandatory Challenger
Former WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion
Former WBC Bantamweight World Champion
Age: 29 / Date of birth: December 12, 1994
Residence, birthplace: Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Record: 35-1, 27 KOs / Total rounds: 175 / World championship fights: 2-1, 1 KO
Height: 5’5” – 165cm / Reach: 65” – 165cm / Stance: Left-handed
Manager: Sean Gibbons / Trainer: Zamir Lozano
WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Rigoberto Riasco (Pan) 1976
2. Royal Kobayashi (Jap) 1976
3. Dong-Kyun Yum (Kor) 1976 – 1977
4. Wilfredo Gomez (P. Rico) 1977 – 1982
5. Jaime Garza (US) 1983 – 1984
6. Juan Meza (US) 1984 – 1985
7. Lupe Pintor (Mex) 1985 – 1986
8. Samart Payakaroon (Thai) 1986 – 1987
9. Jeff Fenech (Aust) 1987 – 1988
10. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) 1988 – 1990
11. Paul Banke (US) 1990
12. Pedro Decima (Arg) 1990 – 1991
13. Kiyoshi Hatanaka (Jap) 1991
14. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) * 1991 – 1992
15. Thierry Jacob (Fra) 1992
16. Tracy Patterson (US) 1992 – 1994
17. Hector Acero-Sanchez (D.R.) 1994 – 1995
18. Daniel Zaragoza (Mex) * 1995 – 1997
19. Erik Morales (Mex) 1997 – 2000
20. Willie Jorrin (US) 2000 – 2002
21. Oscar Larios (Mex) 2002 – 2005
22. Israel Vazquez (Mex) 2005 – 2007
23. Rafael Marquez (Mexico) 2007
24. Israel Vazquez (Mexico) * 2007 – 2008
25. Toshiaki Nishioka (Japan) 2008 – 2012
26. Abner Mares (Mexico) 2012 – 2013
27. Victor Terrazas (Mexico) 2013
28. Leo Santa Cruz (Mexico) 2013 – 2015
29. Julio Ceja (Mexico) 2015 – 2016
30. Hugo Ruiz (Mexico) 2016
31. Hozumi Hasegawa 2016
32. Rey Vargas (Mexico) 2017 – 2020
33. Tomoki Kameda (Japan) Interim 2018
34. Luis Nery (Mexico) 2020 – 2021
35. Brandon Figueroa (US) 2021
36. Stephen Fulton Jr. (US) 2021 – 2023
37. Naoya Iinoue (Japan) 2023 –
* Regained title
WBC TOP 10 SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONS
1. Wilfredo Gomez (Puerto Rico)
2. Erik Morales (Mexico)
3. Jeff Fenech (Australia)
4. Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico)
5. Israel Vazquez (Mexico)
6. Abner Mares (Mexico)
7. Leo Santa Cruz (Mexico)
8. Tracy Patterson (US)
9. Oscar Larios (Mexico)
10. Royal Kobayashi (Japan)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY:
34 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only two have regained the title: Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico) two times, Israel Vazquez (Mexico).
118 WBC super bantamweight world title bouts have been held in WBC history.
Wilfredo Gomez (Puerto Rico) holds the record for super bantamweight world title defenses with 17.
Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico) made 14 title defenses in three periods as champion.
Oscar Larios (Mexico) made 10 title defenses.
MEMORABLE WBC SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Dec. 26, 2023 Naoya Inoue KO10 Marlon Tapales – Tokyo, Japan
July 25, 2023 Naoya Inoue TKO8 Stephen Fulton – Tokyo, Japan
June 4, 2022 Stephen Fulton Jr. W12 Danny Roman – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov. 27, 2021 Stephen Fulton Jr. W12 Brandon Figueroa – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 15, 2021 Brandon Figueroa KO7 Luis Nery – Carson, California
Sep. 26, 2020 Luis Nery W12 Aaron Alameda – Uncasville, Connecticut
Feb. 25, 2017 Rey Vargas W12 Gavin McDonnell – Hull, England
Sep. 16, 2016 Hozumi Hasegawa TKO9 Hugo Ruiz – Osaka, Japan
Feb. 27, 2016 Hugo Ruiz TKO1 Julio Ceja – Anaheim, California
Aug. 29, 2015 Julio Ceja TKO5 Hugo Ruiz – Los Angeles, California
Aug. 24, 2013 Leo Santa Cruz KO3 Victor Terrazas – Carson, California
Nov. 10, 2012 Abner Mares W12 Anselmo Moreno – Los Angeles, California
May 23, 2009 Toshiaki Nishioka TKO3 Jhonny Gonzalez – Monterrey, Mexico
Mar. 1, 2008 Israel Vazquez W12 Rafael Marquez – Carson, California
Aug. 4, 2007 Israel Vazquez TKO6 Rafael Marquez – Hidalgo, Texas
Mar. 3, 2007 Rafael Marquez TKO7 Israel Vazquez – Carson, California
Dec. 3, 2005 Israel Vazquez TKO3 Oscar Larios – Las Vegas, Nevada
May 17, 2002 Oscar Larios TKO12 Israel Vazquez – Sacramento, California
Feb. 19, 2000 Erik Morales W12 Marco Antonio Barrera – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 6, 1996 Erik Morales KO11 Daniel Zaragoza – El Paso, Texas
Nov. 6, 1995 Daniel Zaragoza W12 Hector Acero-Sanchez – Inglewood, California
Aug. 26, 1994 Hector Acero-Sanchez W12 Tracy Harris Patterson – Atlantic City
June 23, 1992 Tracy Harris Patterson TKO2 Thierry Jacob – Albany, New York
Mar. 20, 1992 Thierry Jacob W12 Daniel Zaragoza – Calais, France
Feb. 29, 1988 Daniel Zaragoza TKO10 Carlos Zarate – Inglewood, California
May 8, 1987 Jeff Fenech KO4 Samart Payakaroon – Sydney, Australia
Jan. 18, 1986 Samart Payakaroon KO5 Lupe Pintor – Bangkok, Thailand
Aug. 18, 1985 Lupe Pintor W12 Juan Meza – Mexico City, Mexico
Nov. 3, 1984 Juan Meza KO1 Jaime Garza – Kingston, New York
June 15, 1983 Jaime Garza TKO2 Bobby Berna – Los Angeles, California
Dec. 3, 1982 Wilfredo Gomez TKO14 Lupe Pintor – New Orleans, Louisiana
Oct. 28, 1978 Wilfredo Gomez TKO5 Carlos Zarate – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Jan. 19, 1978 Wilfredo Gomez KO3 Royal Kobayashi – Kitakyushu, Japan
Oct. 9, 1976 Royal Kobayashi KO8 Rigoberto Riasco – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 3, 1976 Rigoberto Riasco TKO9 Waruinge Nakayama – Panama City, Panama
Panther and Monster
By James Blears
Pause for thought, padding softly around the hinterland of the velvety twilight zone, leading up to “Panther” Vs “Monster, ” pitting the formidable undefeated Naoya Inoue Vs hard hitting southpaw Luis Nery, on Monday May 6th at the Tokyo Dome.
It’s been a while since The Dome hosted a big one. Four days after its Grand Inauguration in 1988 Mike Tyson decked Tony Tubbs in two. But then he famously can unstuck there against James “Buster” Douglas in 1990. The biggest upset in Boxing, when Buster stopped him in ten, to bask during his brief moment in the sun. Now all these years later, Nery plots and plans another shocker “Hatchet” job, to crack “The Big Egg, ” scheming to batter and better hard boiled Inoue. It’s a real sunny side up challenge, in the Land Of The Rising Sun!
You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs , but has Nery laid one, by publically staring that Superstar Inoue is overconfident and rather ordinary? Jumping from the frying pan, into the fire and soon the fray of the deep blue sea, he’s publically suggesting: “I’ve seen his fights and I think he’s overrated. I think he’s an ordinary fighter, or at least… that how it appears to me. I don’t think Inoue is superior to Terrence Crawford or Gervonta Davis.
“Inoue isn’t a dummy. He knows how to fight, but he’s not incredible. His weak point, is that he opens up when he throws. I’m going there, looking for a KO, not a decision. I want it to end early.”
Throughout history, what appears ordinary for some, is far from mundane to others. Leonardo Da Vinci reflected: “Success lies in the relentless execution of basics.” Arnold Palmer smiled: “The more I practice…the better I get.” US Secretary of Health and Education John W Gardner insisted: “Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinary well.”
Nery’s tongue in cheek flippancy, is unlikely to be faze, rattle, provoke or goad Naoya, who clinically observes: “ Nery likes to mix it up. He has a strong will to fight. He’s a fast starter, who is good at throwing combinations from middle range. I need to pay attention to distance.
“I want to have a bout befitting an undisputed champion. If I defeat Nery in an overwhelming fashion, that makes clear the gulf between us.”
In front of 55,000 fans in The Big Egg, Naoya is keen to whisk up a sensational victory of meringue topping proportions. Will the will plus ambition to achieve that make him careless, flippant, reckless or over eager? I seriously doubt it.
Supreme in four weight divisions. Undisputed Champion at bantamweight and then super-bantamweight. The finest ever in a nation of brilliant fighters, where: “The best blossom is the cherry blossom and the best man is the warrior.”
In only his sixth pro fight, stopping Adrian “Confesor” Hernandez in 2014, with a TKO in six for the WBC light flyweight championship… up to the end of last year, when he twice dropped and stopped WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion Marlon Tapales, to add those belts to his WBC and WBO ones. Hardly a slouch or a dullard!
Nery is no stranger to Japan, having fought there twice, courting controversy both times. In 2017 he TKO’d WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanka in four, but tested positive for banned substance Zilpaterol, insisting this was due to contaminated food. Subsequent tests came back negative. A rematch was ordered and in the following year, he TKO’d Yamanka in two. But oh sin of cardinal sins, especially in Japan. He forfeited his title, coming in a cuddly three pounds overweight. And the Japanese Boxing Commission promptly banned him there for live. They’ve since forgiven him.
Nery won the vacant WBC super- bantamweight title with a UD over Aaron Almeda, but then the mishap against WBA champion Brandon “Heart Breaker” Figueroa. Nery boxed well and intelligently early on, astutely judging the distance. But then he unwisely got drawn and dragged into a slugfest and was unable to beat the count, after a left uppercut to the midriff winded and dropped him in the seventh.
More recently, what a war of attrition against Azat Hovhannisyanin, who he cut under the right eye, dropped in the third and finally in the tenth, overwhelming him. But he got caught by quite a lot of punches himself, particularly left hooks and rib ticklers.
Nery’s strength lies in his onslaught offense. He’s formidable going forward, yet not that impressive on the back foot. He tends to paw with his right lead and his hands are often held perilously low. Something which he needs to address, amend and tighten up, or Naoya will ruthlessly exploit the stylistic lapse.
Naoya possesses patience. He used it to break down Stephen Fulton, who is renown as a capable defensive boxer. From the start Naoya attacked with lightning fast accurate combinations. Their sheer speed and laser accuracy caught Stephen by surprise. He fought back as best he could, but couldn’t match the output volume. Then in round seven a massive right and an instant follow up left to his head, dropped him hard. Even though he bravely got up, Naoya swarmed, forcing him against the ropes in a corner and Referee Hector Afu saved Stephen with a timely and merciful intervention.
Inoue’s only real test under fire came, when former four division champion and legend Nonito Donare cut his right eye broke his nose and fractured his right orbital bone, all with one hellacious left hook in round two . If there’s anything worse than seeing one of Nonito in the ring, it’s seeing double. Naoya suffered that for the rest of the fight. Yet, a digging, drilling left hook to the liver from him, felled Nontio in eleven and it was only the sturdy veteran’s ingenuity and sheer intestinal courage, which got him to the final bell. He was rapidly taken out in two in the rematch.
Aged 31, Naoya Inoue is at the peak of his powers. He has grown into the super bantam category without losing any speed or power. I personally feel featherweight is a bridge too far. If he crossed that Rubicon, he would be giving away too many physical advantages….but who knows, when it comes to burning boats?
Twenty nine year old Nery’s chance of upending and deposing Naoya, is during the first several rounds. If it goes longer than that then the volume and accumulation of punches will turn the tide against him, sink him and drown him. Naoya knows full well about Nery’s punching power and his champion’s willpower. Nery won’t go gentle into that good night. It will be a battle royale, and while it lasts there will be fireworks.
As they say in Japan: “Kakatte koi yo”… “Bring it on!”
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