Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Results and reaction after dramatic fight in Tokyo
‘The Monster’ dispatched his Mexican rival in a thrilling fight in Tokyo, Japan to defend the undisputed super-bantamweight titles
Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super-bantamweight titles against Luis Nery with a dramatic knockout in Tokyo on Monday.
Inoue, Indy Sport’s pound-for-pound No 1 boxer, continued his dominant streak and added the Mexican to his emphatic win over Marlon Tapales in December, when he became undisputed in a second division – just the second man in history to achieve that feat.
The Japanese, 31, was forced to get off the canvas for the first time in his career, after being floored in round one. But he rallied superbly to drop Nery three times, eventually stopping him in the sixth round.
Re-live all the action, undercard results and reaction from Inoue vs Nery below.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round eight
Ishida is still fighting on the front foot as much as he can, but he looks a little worn down and ungainly now.
Counter cross by Inoue. Jab. Now Ishida gets off a few jabs.
It’s turning into a scrap at close range!
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round seven
Into the second half of this fight. Ishida again tries to pressure Inoue, who fights his way off the ropes nicely.
Long jab by the champion, then a left hook. A couple more jabs from Inoue, who changes the angle each time – that’s wonderful work.
Stern jab to the mid-section by Inoue now.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round six
Ishida jabs to the body. Inoue comes back with an overhand right.
Ishida is bleeding somewhat from the nose now, but his left eye looks clean for the moment.
Now Ishida digs to the body with a left hook, then leans all over Inoue, driving the champion back to the ropes.
Inoue is able to create some range and land a couple of long straights. He circles into the open.
A one-two from Inoue, but Ishida is jusssssst out of range.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round five
As in some of the earlier rounds, Inoue is beating Ishida to the punch with jabs.
He turns one into an uppercut, nice work.
Slick counter cross by Ishida to end the round, though!
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round four
Right hook to the body by Inoue, then one to the head! Nice little combination.
Ishida with a well-timed right hook of his own, to the head. The bantamweights briefly grapple, digging in with body hooks at close range.
They separate, and Inoue tags Ishida with a left upstairs. More close-range fighting now. Good uppercuts from Inoue.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round three
More good jabs from Inoue. Ishida throws a couple of his own, but the champion is out of range.
Inoue fires back with an uppercut. Short left hook by Ishida, but he’s bleeding from around his left eye.
OH! And he leans into a left hook by Inoue, and that has him staggering slightly!
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round two
Inoue looks to earn Ishida’s respect now, landing a nice combination with hard hooks and an uppercut through the taller man’s guard.
Ishida gets back on the front foot, tying up the champion and burrowing a right hook into his body.
The pair separate, and Ishida walks onto another uppercut. Now a sharp jab catches out the challenger.
Another snapping jab by Inoue! A much better round for him.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Round one
Ishida, much the taller fighter, jabs to the body. Inoue sees a cross blocked upstairs.
OH! Inoue is down in the first round! A perfect counter jab does it!
He beats the referee’s count, and to be fair, he doesn’t look hurt; it seemed more like a flash knockdown.
He’s cogent as he navigates the final minute of the round.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Takuma Inoue vs Sho Ishida
Next up: Takuma Inoue defends the WBA bantamweight title against Sho Ishida!
Takuma (19-1, 5 KOs), of course related to Naoya Inoue, tends to fight on his brother’s cards.
Ishida is 34-3 (17 KOs) coming into this one.
Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Seigo Yuri Akui vs Taku Kuwahara
Seigo Yuri Akui vs Taku Kuwahara via unanimous decision (117-111, 117-111, 118-110).
And still! Akui retains the WBA flyweight title. A fair set of scorecards.
A tough experience for Kuwahara, who suffers his second pro loss – and second against Akui – after he started well today.
Still, the challenger is gracious in defeat, bowing to the crowd from all four sides of the ring.
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