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Luis Nery Convinced He Is ‘The Only One Who Can Beat Naoya Inoue’

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | By Jonathan Turner | Last updated 4/27/24

Luis Nery is confident he can deliver a shock victory over undisputed super-bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue when the pair meet in Japan next month.

Inoue (26-0-0 23 KO) is one of the most dominant fighters on the planet and is only the second male boxer in history (after Terence Crawford) to become undisputed world champion in two divisions.

A world champion at light-flyweight and super-flyweight, the man appropriately nicknamed ‘The Monster’ proceeded to clean out the bantamweight division before repeating the feat at 122lbs.

After stopping Marlon Tapales in December last year to become undisputed at super-bantamweight, Inoue makes his first defense of the four world titles against Nery in Tokyo on May 6.

Nery (35-1-0 27 KO) has a controversial history with Japanese boxing. The Mexican first fought in the Asian nation in August 2017 when he defeated Shinsuke Yamanaka in the fourth round to become the WBC’s super-flyweight champion. However, Nery later failed a drug test and was stripped of the title.

Inoue ‘Has Weaknesses’

After winning his appeal, the WBC ordered a rematch, which also took place in Japan. Nery, however, weighed in five pounds over the limit. His size advantage proved a massive difference, with Nery securing a destructive second-round knockout.

The Japanese boxing authorities, unhappy with Nery’s two transgressions, issued a lifetime ban on the Mexican from ever fighting in its country again.

That ban was lifted in February to allow for the fight with Inoue to be made, and Nery is determined to become public enemy No 1 in Japan again by defeating its biggest star.

“This is the highest stage one can reach as a fighter,” Nery said. “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 [Inoue] 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.”

Inoue has rarely been troubled in his career so far. The Japanese star’s combination of power, speed, and athleticism has been too good for his 26 opponents, with only Nonito Donaire offering a stern test in 2019. However, Inoue crushed the Filipino Flash in their rematch in 2022.

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Nery Inspired By Tyson’s Tokyo Defeat

Despite Inoue’s perfect record and fearsome fighting style, Nery is full of confidence that he is the man to finally tame The Monster.

“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,” he said. “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.”

Nery said he is taking inspiration from former heavyweight Buster Douglas, who produced the greatest shock in boxing history by handing the dominant Mike Tyson his first defeat. That fight also took place in the Tokyo Dome.

“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,” Nery said. “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.”

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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