FIERY two-division world champion Luis Nery, 35-2 (27 KOs), has established himself as a pantomime villain of sorts, particularly in East Asia, while also proving to be one of the most exciting fighters to watch at 122lbs.
Now, Nery is hoping to return to winning ways following a defeat on the big stage but gave himself little chance of altering his antihero image ahead of his meeting with Kyonosuke Kameda, 15-3-2 (9 KOs), swinging for the Japanese contender after an intense face-off at the press conference for their fight.
Fighting his first 23 contests in Mexico, Nery first introduced himself to Japanese boxing fans in 2017, when he collided with undefeated fan-favourite and reigning WBC bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka in a first world title challenge – stopping Yamanaka on away soil after just four rounds of action.
Much to the disgust of Yamanaka’s many fans, it was revealed that Nery had tested positive for zilpaterol, a banned substance, in the aftermath, with the WBC soon ordering a rematch but not overturning the result of their contest.
The following year, Nery travelled to Japan to face his rival for a second time but missed weight by three pounds, meaning the title was only at stake for Yamanaka.
However, the increased size of Nery proved too much as an undersized Yamanaka was knocked out in round two of their rematch.
Because of those controversies, Nery was slapped with a lifetime ban from fighting in the lucrative lower-weight hotspot of Japan, but ‘Pantera’ continued his success elsewhere, becoming a two-division world champion by defeating Aaron Alameda in 2020.
Yet, after six years away from Japan, Nery’s ban was lifted last year in order to stage a showdown with pound-for-pound superstar Naoya Inoue, with the undisputed super-bantamweight crown at stake at an unusually hostile Tokyo Dome.
Inoue halted Nery inside six rounds to further cement his claim to the pound-for-pound throne and, in turn, enhance his superstar status in the Land of the Rising Sun.
His assignment was not without its adversity, though, as Nery became the first fighter to drop ‘The Monster’ in what was Inoue’s 27th professional fight.
The 30-year-old Mexican southpaw now returns to action on home territory against Kameda, who is undefeated in his last nine fights ahead of a first career appearance outside of Japan.
At the press conference ahead of their clash in Tijuana, tension erupted into turmoil during a heated face-off, with Nery twice swinging for Kameda in a clip captured by Supreme Boxing.
Nery-Kameda takes place on Saturday, February 22, topping a card that also features former world title challenger Carlos Ocampo, 36-3, (24 KOs).
