Boxing News: Japanese Boxing Commission Lifts Ban on Luis Nery Amid Naoya Inoue Fight Rumors

Last year, days after Naoya Inoue defeated Marlon Tapales to emerge undisputed in the super bantamweight, his promoter suggested Luis Nery as his next potential opponent. However, to get that fight rolling, a pertinent impediment remained- a lifelong ban on the Mexican boxer in Japan. Today, talks of a fight between the Japanese phenom and Nery have picked momentum. What has the Japanese Boxing Commission done to facilitate the fight?

In December last year, by defeating his Filipino opponent, Tapales, ‘The Monster’ made history. He joined Terence Crawford, becoming the only second man ever to emerge undisputed in two weight classes in the four-belt era. Now, months later, with three fights as his aim for this year, he awaits a fight offer from Australia. However, to get to that, he needs to defeat Nery first. As far as a fight with Luis Nery is concerned, JBC has just made Inoue’s decision easier.

Naoya Inoue vs. Luis Nery to feature at the Tokyo Dome

In 2018, the former WBC Bantamweight champion, Nery, was banned from fighting in Japan, indefinitely. The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) suspended the Tijuana native from fighting within its jurisdiction after he failed to hit the weight requirement for his WBC-mandated Tokyo rematch against Shinsuke Yamanaka. The move came shortly after he was reported to have also tested positive for the banned substance, Zilpaterol. Since then, he’s majorly fought in the US with a few fights fought in Mexico too.

However, a fight against Inoue would be his career’s biggest. As per sources, works have begun to fire up the Tokyo Dome for a fight between them. Doubling down on these developments, the JBC’s fresh announcement almost sealed the deal for Inoue vs. Nery in May.

On Monday, the body announced that it was rolling back its objection to any of ‘Pantera’s’ fights in Japan. Boxing reporter, Michael Benson on X, noted, “The Japan Boxing Commission have lifted Luis Nery’s ban from fighting in the country ahead of an imminent announcement for his bout vs Naoya Inoue on May 6th at the Tokyo Dome.”

Southpaw, Nery last fought Filipino, Froilan Saludar in a Metepac, Mexico fight, winning that clash in a spectacular second-round technical knockout. Once Inoue successfully defends his title against the challenge of Nery, he might fly to Australia to undertake a big clash that fans await.

Read More: Boxing Rumors: Naoya Inoue to Defend Undisputed Title Against Australian Pro Boxer in 2024

A Sam Goodman fight on the cards

Earlier, Benson also revealed that there is a high chance that Yokohama-based Inoue will defend his titles against the challenge of Australian fighter, Sam Goodman, in the latter’s home country. The 25-year-old remains the mandatory challenger for the Monster’s IBF belt. “Naoya Inoue could defend his undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO super-bantamweight world titles vs Sam Goodman (IBF mandatory) in Australia later this year,” noted the reporter on X.

Reporting on what he learned from 17-0, Goodman’s promoter, he revealed, “Goodman’s promoter George Rose has revealed that he is in talks with Inoue’s USA co-promoter Bob Arum about this possibility. Inoue will first defend vs Luis Nery (WBC mandatory) on May 6th at the Tokyo Dome.”

Both the Luis Nery and Sam Goodman fights come at a crucial time for the fighter. This year is slated to be a full-house for Naoya Inoue with two fights already set. Who do you think is a bigger challenge for Naoya Inoue- Nery or Goodman? Let us know in the comments section below.

Also Read: HE Turki Alalshikh Challenges Naoya Inoue With Lionel Messi In a Surprising Move