YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) — Japanese boxing sensation Naoya Inoue declared on Tuesday that he has no intention of slowing down following his successful defense of the undisputed super bantamweight world championship against Mexico’s Luis Nery.
The renowned boxer, famously known as “the Monster,” maintained his four belts by securing a sixth-round stoppage victory over Nery in front of a capacity crowd of approximately 43,000 spectators at the Tokyo Dome on Monday. This triumph extended his flawless record to 27 wins and no losses, with an impressive 24 knockouts.
Reflecting on his performance, Inoue expressed satisfaction and emphasized that the recent bout served not as a peak but rather as a catalyst for his career advancement. Speaking at a press conference held at his Ohashi Gym in Yokohama, the 31-year-old champion remarked, “I’m content with my performance. This fight wasn’t the climax; it was a stepping stone in my journey.”
Despite facing a knockdown for the first time in his professional career during the opening round, Inoue swiftly recovered and dominated the remainder of the match. “Although my corner may have been slightly anxious, I believe the audience left the venue fulfilled,” he noted, visibly unscathed from the intense battle.
Inoue is slated to compete on home turf in September and is currently negotiating a matchup against undefeated Australian boxer Sam Goodman, who boasts 18 wins and eight knockouts. “I aspire to continue engaging in thrilling contests,” affirmed Inoue, expressing his eagerness for future challenges.
Monday’s bout reportedly attracted record-breaking viewership for broadcaster Amazon Prime, surpassing the previous high set by the 2023 World Baseball Classic final, which aired on terrestrial television.
The financial rewards for Inoue from the fight are estimated to exceed 1 billion yen ($6.5 million), with even more lucrative opportunities on the horizon, according to his gym president, Hideyuki Ohashi. Ohashi revealed that discussions are underway for Inoue to feature in another bout in December, backed by a wealthy Saudi Arabian promoter offering a purse “more than double” that of the Nery match.
“Naoya Inoue is truly exceptional. I want him to achieve feats unprecedented by any Japanese athlete,” expressed Ohashi, emphasizing his belief in Inoue’s extraordinary talents and potential.
