Super bantamweight king Naoya Inoue’s inaugural undisputed defense is now on the table, as Mike Coppinger reports that “The Monster” has agreed to face Luis Nery in Tokyo this May.
Never has the term “hostile territory” been more appropriate. Nery (35-1, 27 KO), who outpointed Azat Hovhannisyan in a ferocious war last February and then smoked outmatched Froilan Saludar, is persona non grata in Japan after failing a drug test and subsequently losing weight in the back. -Consecutive knockouts by Shinsuke Yamanaka.
This led to a lifetime suspension, but according to ESPN, “the officials involved have been assured that the Mexican will be reinstated.” To be fair, if you really wanted to punish someone, there are few crueler options than pitting him against Inoue (26-0, 23 KO).
Hyperbole aside, Nery is arguably Inoue’s biggest remaining threat at 122 alongside Murodjon Akhmadaliev. “Greatest” is a relative term, of course, but “Pantera” hits harder than any of Inoue’s opponents to date and has some skill to back it up. The only way this won’t produce fireworks is if one of them falls early.
I say that Inoue finishes him to the body in seven. What do you think?
