Naoya Inoue will be the marquee attraction in a boxing title fight quadruple header on Monday, May 6 at Tokyo Dome, it was announced on Wednesday, March 6.
Appearing in the 22nd world title fight of his illustrious career, undisputed super bantamweight champion "Monster" Inoue (26-0, 23 knockouts) will meet Mexico's Luis Nery (35-1, 27 KOs).
The fight card will also feature Takuma Inoue (19-1, five KOs), Naoya's younger brother, who is the WBA bantamweight champion. His opponent: Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs).
Naoya Inoue previously conquered the bantamweight division, becoming the undisputed champion with an 11th-round stoppage of Paul Butler on December 13, 2022. He vacated the division and repeated the feat in the super bantamweight division by earning a 10th-round KO of Marlon Tapales on December 26, 2023.
Also fighting on this busy boxing Monday with a bantamweight title on the line will be Australian WBO champion Jason Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs), who faces former kickboxer Yoshiki Takei (8-0, eight KOs). Takei was the K-1 super bantamweight champion before switching to boxing and turning pro in 2021.
Meanwhile, WBA flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) is getting ready for his title defense on the same night against compatriot Taku Kuwahara (13-1, eight KOs).
Capitalizing on the Popularity of Naoya Inoue
After the elder Inoue's last fight was held in December at Ariake Arena, with a capacity for 15,000, there was talk of staging his next fight at Tokyo Dome. The baseball stadium can accommodate more than 50,000 spectators as a fight venue.
The last time Tokyo Dome was the site for a major world title fight was February 11, 1990, when 42-1 underdog James "Buster" Douglas shocked the world by beating Mike Tyson, the undisputed heavyweight champion via a 10th-round knockout.
On March 21, 1988, Tyson had his first of two fights at the Big Egg, which opened that same month and he recorded a second-round TKO of Tony "TNT" Tubbs before an announced crowd of 51,000.
Now, decades later, longtime fight promoter Bob Arum, chairman of Top Rank, Inc, said he's looking forward to viewing a prominent fight event at the home of Nippon Professional Baseball's Yomiuri Giants.
"Naoya Inoue is the world's best fighter, a young man who amazes me every time he steps in the ring. Luis Nery is a tough challenger, but I fully expect Inoue to get the job done in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome," Arum said, according to a Top Rank news release.
"In addition to this incredible main event, we have a spectacular undercard highlighted by Jason Moloney, a road warrior who is coming to Japan determined to show he's the world's best bantamweight."
Ready to Rumble
Naoya Inoue was named The Ring magazine's 2023 Fighter of the Year.
By no means is he resting on his laurels as he looks ahead to his Tokyo Dome debut against Nery.
Inoue said as much at a Wednesday news conference.
"My motivation is really high," Inoue was quoted as saying by Kyodo News. "I need to roll my sleeves up to face a strong boxer. It'll be a heated fight."
During the news conference, Inoue elaborated on the significance of his next fight.
"I am strongly motivated because the upcoming fight will be the first fight since Mike Tyson fought at the dome," Inoue said, according to Boxing News.
"Luis Nery is a very strong fighter, so I will have to be at the top of my game," he added, according to Agence France-Presse.
RELATED:
- ANALYSIS | Three of Japan's Best Boxers Showcased in a Triple World Title Delight
- [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Naoya Inoue is The Ring's 2023 Fighter of the Year
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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