Boxing: Naoya Inoue knocks out Luis Nery in Tokyo Dome showdown

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Naoya Inoue, Japan’s undisputed super bantamweight world champion said Saturday he has high hopes for the defense of his four belts against Mexico’s Luis Nery when they fight on Monday.

“I’m convinced it’s going to be a monumental fight. I want people to see me win with a knockout,” Inoue told a press conference in Yokohama.

Their bout will highlight a card at Tokyo Dome, which will host its first world boxing title fights in 34 years.

“It’s rare that the timing of a fight can be aligned to take place in such a splendid environment,” Inoue said.

Nery, who was suspended by the WBC for failing to make weight for a bantamweight title fight in Japan in March 2018, said his weight was no issue this time around, and that he too wanted a win by knockout.

Inoue is 26-0 as a pro with 23 knockouts, while Nery is 35-1 with 27 KOs.

In addition to their fight, the Tokyo Dome card includes three other world title bouts.

Takuma Inoue, the super bantamweight champ’s younger brother, will make the second defense of his WBA bantamweight crown, against compatriot Sho Ishida, the top-ranked contender.

WBA flyweight champion Seigo Yuri Akui will square off with third-ranked Taku Kuwahara in his first title defense, while Australian WBO bantamweight champ Jason Moloney will take on fifth-ranked Yoshiki Takei, a former K-1 kickboxer.