However, this victory was not without drama. In round one, Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs) was decked for the first time in his career by a spectacular left hand that sent shockwaves through the champion and the 40,000-plus fans in attendance.

The champ rose immediately but he was hurt and forced to retreat for the remainder of the round. Displaying the heart of a champion, Inoue made the necessary adjustments and began dishing out the damage. He floored Nery in the second and fifth rounds and closed the show with a right-uppercut, right-hand combination that knocked the challenger out cold.

“The knockdown gave me motivation,” said Inoue through a translator during his post-fight interview. “I am so thankful to get a fight against Luis Nery at the Tokyo Dome.

“I know there was some difficult feeling among Japanese boxing fans because of his fights in the past, but I personally appreciate Nery. That’s why I shook hands with him after the fight.”

As anticipated by fans and experts, this was a fight-of-the-year contender. Both men came out blazing early and it was Inoue that made the first mistake. While letting the punches fly up close, the champ dropped his right hand and was caught by Nery’s signature left to the jaw. He went down hard — very hard — but what we found out is that “The Monster” can take a punch. He found his feet and backed off in a hurry as Nery sought the sensational finish.

The one-minute rest period was enough for Inoue to recover. He came out with his gloves high and boxed smart, blasting home the right to the body and jabbing at his opponent’s head. Backing up near the ropes, the champ then threaded home a perfect left-hook counter that dropped the Mexican fighter to the canvas. Now, they were even.

Inoue took command by imposing his boxing skills on Nery. Another superb left hook decked Nery again in the fifth and the writing was on the wall. The finish was delivered with the efficiency of an executioner. When the two-piece combination connected, the referee immediately waved off the count as Nery lay poleaxed.

In his previous two fights, Inoue annihilated unified champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales to become undisputed. By following that up with this performance, the Japanese star strengthens his case for being the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Afterwards, Inoue was confronted by IBF mandatory challenger Sam Goodman, who wasted no time in calling out the Japanese hero. “I’ve been meaning to see you for over a year,” said Goodman. “Either give up the belts or fight me.”

When that information was translated for Inoue, the champion nodded sternly and shook the Australian’s hand. “The Monster” then told his fans that he’d be back in action in September.

Nery, 29, falls to 35-2 (27 KOs).

The Sporting News provided live coverage from the full card in Japan and round-by-round scoring for the main event. 

Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery live updates, highlights, and commentary

AND STILL THE UNDISPUTED SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD… NAOYA INOUE!!!! THE OFFICIAL TIME OF THE KNOCKOUT IS 1:22. GREAT FIGHT… GREAT PERFORMANCE…

Round 6: Nery panic throwing with the left because he scored the knockdown early. Inoue has made the adjustments. INOUE KNOCKS NERY OUT COLD WITH A RIGHT UPPERCUT-STRAIGHT RIGHT. Spectacular knockout!

SN Unofficial Scorecard: –

Round 5: Two right hands by Inoue. Back on the jab. Inoue outboxing Nery for fun. Scores a one-two. Clash of heads and Nery warned for use of the head. Straight right hand from Inoue. NERY DOWN AGAIN FROM A LEFT HOOK. Nery up but taking damage. Left hook from Inoue. The bell ends the round.

SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-8 Inoue (48-44 Inoue)

Round 4: Nery coming forward but Inoue is so sharp on the counter. Inoue on the jab and still scoring with a sharp right hand. Inoue lands and Nery laughs. Inoue is disgusted and smashes home more shots and laughs back. Strong right by Inoue. Another to the body. Left hook to the body.

SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Inoue (38-36Inoue)

Round 3: Slower pace in this round but still intense. Inoue making great use of his right hand to the body. Great right to the chin by Inoue. ANOTHER ONE! Nery still dangerous with the left counter, but the champion is in command.

SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-9 Inoue (28-27 Inoue)

Round 2: Inoue comes out with his hands high. Sharp one-two from the Japanese star. The jab landing nicely. The champion clearly more cautious now. Two rights to the body from Inoue. DOWN GOES NERY FROM A SHARP LEFT HOOK! Nery up and they fight on. What a fight!!!!!

SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-8 Inoue (18-18)

Round 1: Inoue throws a huge right – the go-home punch – within seconds. It was a statement of intent. Big punches from both, nothing landing flush. HUGE LEFT HAND DROPS INOUE!!!! Inoue hurt badly and on the retreat. Recovers and sees out the round. MAJOR WARNING SIGN! This was the first time Inoue has ever been down.

SN Unofficial Scorecard: 10-8 Nery

We now switch to round-by-round coverage for the main event. It’s time!!! Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue takes on dangerous Mexican lefty Luis Nery.

AND THE NEW WBO BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD… YOSHIKI TAKEI. JAPANESE STAR AND FORMER KICKBOXER WINS A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION WITH SCORES OF 117-110, 116-111, 116-111.

8:29 p.m. JST/ 7:29 a.m. ET: Best round of the fight from Moloney. The champ tucked up tight and pounded out the work for the full three minutes. Takei was in a ton of trouble and appeared to be exhausted at the end.

8:25 p.m. JST/ 7:25 a.m. ET: As we head into the final round, Moloney needs a knockout. He’s been brave but outgunned for most of the fight. Takei has boxed brilliantly.

8:14 p.m. JST/ 7:14 a.m. ET: Moloney had his best round in the eighth. He landed a flush right hand to the jaw that had an effect and kept the pressure on. The champ needs to keep up the pace because he’s behind on points.

8:05 p.m. JST/ 7:05 a.m. ET: Moloney had some success in the sixth. Takei appeared uncomfortable when the champ took the action to the inside. However, a right hook seemed to buckle Moloney at the bell.

8:00 p.m. JST/ 7:00 a.m. ET: Despite losing a point for a low blow, Takei is in command of this fight through five rounds. His distance control has been excellent. Every time Moloney attempts to close the gap, he gets nailed by a heavy shot. It’s going to take a lot for the Australian star to turn this around.

7:53 p.m. JST/ 6:53 a.m. ET: Moloney struggling with the power and lefty stance of Takei. The champion appeared stunned by head shots in the third, and one body shot — a legal one this time — had him sucking in air.

7:47 p.m. JST/ 6:47 a.m. ET: As anticipated, Takei is deducted a point for a low blow in the second minute of round two. He needs to stop throwing the straight left to the body.

7:44 p.m. JST/ 6:44 a.m. ET: Round one went well for Takei in terms of tactics. He boxed well behind a southpaw jab and kept Moloney off him. The bad news is that the challenger was warned three times for low blows. He needs to watch himself.

7:30 p.m. JST/ 6:30 a.m. ET: Ring walks have just started for the co-main event between Jason Moloney and Yoshiki Takei. Moloney is the defending WBO bantamweight champ and could have his work cut out for him against the unbeaten challenger.

TAKUMA INOUE RETAINS HIS WBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE BY SCORING AN IMPRESSIVE 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER MANDATORY CHALLENGER SHO ISHIDA. SCORES ARE 118-109, 118-109, 116-111.

7:13 p.m. JST/ 6:13 a.m. ET: As we head into the final round of this WBA bantamweight title fight, Ishida needs a knockout. Takuma Inoue has been largely dominant from the second round on.

7:01 p.m. JST/ 6:01 a.m. ET: We’re through eight rounds and Takuma Inoue is in cruise control. His superior punch variety and volume have been more than enough to keep the challenger honest.

6:44 p.m. JST/ 5:44 a.m. ET: Four rounds down and Inoue has bounced back from the flash knockdown in round one. The champion has Ishida’s nose bleeding thanks to an accurate left jab and his combination work at mid-range has been impressive.

6:32 p.m. JST/ 5:32 a.m. ET: DOWN GOES TAKUMA INOUE from a sharp counter jab by Ishida in round one. Inoue was boxing well up to that point and does not appear to be hurt.

6:19 p.m. JST/ 5:19 a.m. ET: Next up, Takuma Inoue — younger brother of “The Monster” — defends makes the second defence of his WBA bantamweight title against mandatory challenger and compatriot Sho Ishida.

AND STILL…  SEIGO YURI AKUI (20-2-1, 11 KOs) SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS HIS WBA FLYWEIGHT TITLE FOR THE FIRST TIME BY SCORING A 12-ROUND UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER TAKU KUWAHARA. SCORES WERE 118-110, 117-111, 117-111. THIS WAS AKUI’S SECOND VICTORY OVER THIS OPPONENT. KUWARA DROPS TO 13-2 (8 KOs).

6:04 p.m. JST/ 5:04 a.m. ET: As we enter the last round, Akui would appear to have the edge on points. Kuwahara has been competitive in every round, but his assaults have come in cameos in the second half. Akui has been the more consistent fighter of the two.

5:49 p.m. JST/ 4:49 a.m. ET: The bell ends round seven. While Kuwahara is still releasing some beautiful combinations, there’s evidence that Akui’s pressure-packed attack is slowing him down. The champion appears to be edging ahead on points.

5:34 p.m. JST/ 4:34 a.m. ET: We’re four rounds in and this two-way action is superb. Akui is on the front foot and boxing well behind a sharp jab. Kuwahara backing up, but scoring very well on the counter, particularly with the left hook. Neither fighter has a decided edge.

5:10 p.m. JST/ 4:10 a.m. ET: Our first world title fight is about to get underway. Seigo Yuri Akui defends his WBA flyweight championship against Taku Kuwahara.

3:00 p.m. JST/ 2:00 a.m. ET: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue’s defence of his undisputed super bantamweight title against hard-punching Mexican southpaw Luis Nery.

Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery fight card

Naoya Inoue (c) def. Luis Nery via KO 6 (1:22) for the IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO and Ring super bantamweight world titles
Yoshiki Takei def. Jason Moloney (c) via UD 12 (117-110, 116-111, 116-111) for the WBO bantamweight world title
Takuma Inoue (c) def. Sho Ishida via UD 12 (118-109, 118-109, 116-111) for the WBA bantamweight world title
Seigo Yuri Akui (c) def. Taku Kuwahara via UD 12 (118-110, 117-111, 117-111) for the WBA flyweight world title
TJ Doheny def. Bryl Bayogos via TKO 8; Super bantamweight