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May 6: Naoya Inoue-Luis Nery undisputed WBO junior featherweight fight at Tokyo Dome Showdown

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The Japanese pound-for-pound hero will headline the biggest boxing event his country has ever seen. Undisputed junior featherweight world champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend all her belts against Mexican boxer Luis “Pantera” Nery on Monday, May 6 at the Tokyo Dome.

Inoue, a four-time world champion and the undisputed king of two weight classes, will be the main star of this iconic gala for the first time.

Inoue-Nery and three additional world title bouts will air live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ at 4 a.m. ET/1 a.m. PT. Australian WBO Bantamweight World Champion Jason “Mayhem” Moloney will defend his belt against rising knockout artist and former Kickboxing World Champion Yoshiki Takei.

“Naoya Inoue is the best fighter in the world, a newborn man who amazes me every time he steps into the ring. “Luis Nery is a tough challenger, but I fully expect Inoue to get the job done in front of over 50,000 fans in the Tokyo Dome,” top CEO Bob Arum said. “In addition to this incredible main event, we have a spectacular undercard headlined by Jason Moloney, a road warrior who comes to Japan determined to show that he is the best bantamweight in the world.”

The Tokyo Dome, which opened in March 1988, has a compact but wealthy boxing history. Four days after the facility’s grand opening, Mike Tyson defended his undisputed heavyweight championship via second-round TKO over Tony Tubbs in front of 51,000 spectators. The last professional boxing gala in “The Huge Egg” took place in February 1990. In one of the biggest moments in sports, James “Buster” Douglas knocked out Tyson in the 10th round to claim the undisputed crown.

Inoue (26-0, 23 KO) won his first world title in April 2014 and has performed flawlessly since then. He has an astonishing 21-0 record in world title fights, including 19 knockouts. He became the undisputed champion in two weight classes in 378 days, defeating Paul Butler in December 2022 to become the bantamweight ruler, and defeating Marlon Tapales last December to unify the junior featherweight division. Five months before Tapales’ triumph, Inoue defeated previously undefeated two-division American champion Stephen Fulton in his junior featherweight debut. He was named the 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN.com and Ring Magazine, and he debuts in 2024 with the intention of consolidating his hold on the division.

Nery (35-1, 27 KO) is a former two-weight world champion who won the WBC title in both the bantamweight and junior divisions. Nery lost the bantamweight title after missing weight in a 2018 rematch with Shinsuke Yamanaka, whom he dethroned for the belt the year before. In 2020, he won a decision over Aaron Alameda and became a two-weight world champion. Nery’s undefeated streak ended the following year with a seventh-round loss to Brandon Figueroa and a chance to unify the title. Since the loss in Figueroa, he has won four straight fights, including a sensational 11th-round knockout of Azat Hovhannisyan last February in one of the best fights of the year.

Moloney (27-2, 19 KO) won the world title in his third attempt, defeating Filipino veteran Vincent Astrolabio by majority decision last May. He defended his WBO belt in January, defeating Saul Sanchez on both occasions in Quebec City, Canada. Moloney retained his title by majority decision and will once again head to foreign soil. Takei (8-0, 8 KO) is a winger who turned professional in March 2021 and quickly rose in the rankings. His last fight was on the Inoue-Tapales undercard, defeating Mario Diaz Maldonado in the second round. As a kickboxer, he went 23-2 with 16 knockouts and held the K-1 super bantamweight championship for almost three years.

Moloney said: “I have always wanted to fight in Japan and to do it at this huge event in front of a completely sold out crowd at the Tokyo Dome is a dream come true. I want to be known as the world champion who returned to the past. I won the title in America, defended it in Canada, and now I’m ready to go into enemy territory and defend the title in Japan against the undefeated Yoshiki Takei. I know the Japanese fans will be joyful with this fight and I’m looking forward to gaining fresh fans in Japan and around the world. On May 6, I will show the world what the ‘Mayhem Era’ is all about!

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UK Boxing

“I’m not saying he’s gone, but…” – Carl Froch on Ben Whittaker

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Whittaker and Cameron fell out of the ring Photo Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Carl Froch admits he is worried about Ben Whittaker after draw with Liam Cameron. Photo: Dave Thompson/Matchroom/Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions
Carl Froch admits he is worried about Ben Whittaker after draw with Liam Cameron. Photo: Dave Thompson/Matchroom/Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions

Carl Froch admits he is concerned about Ben Whittaker’s fine career after Saturday’s draw with Liam Cameron.

Both Whittaker and Cameron fell out of the ring, and the fight was called off in the fifth round, with “The Surgeon” leaving the arena in a wheelchair.

Many were quick to judge that the 2020 Olympic silver medalist had quit, even though his promoter Ben Shalom said he suffered ankle and neck injuries.

“Following the unprecedented match-ending incident on Saturday evening, Ben Whittaker is undergoing further neck examinations as a previous injury aggravated following a fall,” Shalom said. Heavenly sports.

“He also suffered a sprained ankle and will begin the rehabilitation process as soon as he is cleared by doctors and is determined to return to the ring as soon as possible.”

Former super middleweight world champion Froch insists Whittaker’s performance is cause for concern.

“I think the fight could have continued,” the 47-year-old said Froch About the fight.

“Some say Ben Whittaker actually left and it would make sense because he was under pressure.

“I think Cameron is really pissed off and Ben Whittaker is probably content that the fight is over.

Whittaker and Cameron fell out of the ring. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Whittaker and Cameron fell out of the ring. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“No matter how you look at it, Ben Whittaker has disappointed a bit, so you have to worry about how large of a prospect he will be at world level.

I hope he comes back well and robust and shows us all that he is a beginning.

“I love watching him fight. I love his razzmatazz. I love his energy, nonchalance in the ring and self-confidence.

“But he looked a little under-muscled last night and the way he came out in the wheelchair, I just think for me it was a little bit of looking for a way out.

“I’m not saying he gave up, but it was definitely a little iffy the way that fight ended.”

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Jake Paul has already been told by Mike Tyson’s replacement option that he will be ready to fight

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Roy Jones Jr has expressed his willingness to fight Jake Paul if he is called upon to replace Mike Tyson. The 55-year-old boxing icon said he was looking forward to replacing Tyson after the scheduled July 20 fight between Paul and Tyson proved to be a setback.

Tyson had to withdraw from the long-awaited fight due to being declared incapacitated due to the recurrence of a peptic ulcer. Considered one of the most talented fighters to ever step into the ring, Jones faced Tyson in an eight-round exhibition match, who had scored no goals four years earlier.

Still, the accomplished multiple world heavyweight champion didn’t mince words about the prospect of facing Paul, showing he’s ready to compete if he gets the nod. “I’m kind of thinking about it,” Jones told Betway earlier this year, referring to the possibility of facing Paul. “I might try to get in shape if that happens. Maybe I can achieve that.”

“I’ve never thought about it before, but given the situation surrounding the fight, I think it’s a great idea and I’ll be ready and in shape because if the fight doesn’t happen, this will be the perfect replacement fighter for Mike Tyson with Jake Paul is something I was thinking about, if the fight happens, then yes.

Despite retiring six years ago, Jones couldn’t resist returning to fight former UFC champion Anthony Pettis last September, which he lost on points, reports said. Mirror. Addressing the rumors circulating about a potential fight with Tommy Fury, Paul’s previous opponent, and the possibility of facing Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at the exhibition, the former heavyweight champion expressed his enthusiasm.

“Of course the Tommy Fury thing came up, and one day someone asked me if I would fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at the gala, and it’s crazy. I would jump on it, but now that it’s out there, it makes sense for Jake Paul to get into shape, and it would be one of the biggest fights of the decade.”

Jones, reflecting on the much-discussed fight, admitted he couldn’t imagine Paul beating Tyson, once called the most feared man in boxing. He suggested that despite Paul’s juvenile age, Tyson’s skills would likely overwhelm him.

Speaking to FightHype, Jones said: “It’s a juvenile lion and an elderly lion. It’s a great situation for them. He gives Jake a chance because Mike is his age. I think it’s a great opportunity for both players, but still, I think Mike will be a little too large for Jake.

While Jones appears ready to go, reports indicate that Tyson, 58, has recovered from a grave relapse of a peptic ulcer that left him dizzy during a flight from Miami to Los Angeles in May, allowing him to enter the ring against Paul .

Paramedics rushed to facilitate Tyson at LAX and, after a thorough examination, confirmed he was doing well despite his fear. Discussing the incident with Mail Online, Tyson revealed that his food choices were to blame for his health scare, revealing: “I was eating too much bad food and stuff and it made me diseased.”

The highly anticipated fight between Tyson and Paul will take place on November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. They are expected to fight in front of a potential audience of 90,000 viewers, and the fight will be streamed live on Netflix.

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Frank Warren reveals Dubois-Joshua rematch may not be next

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Dubois scored a career best win against Joshua last month (Photo Credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

Warren revealed other options are being considered (Image: DAZN, Adrian Dennis)
Warren revealed other options are being considered (Image: DAZN, Adrian Dennis)

Frank Warren says there are several options being considered for Daniel Dubois’ next move beyond a rematch with Anthony Joshua.

Last month, Warren sat ringside and watched his man Dubois stunningly knocks out Joshua to retain the IBF heavyweight world title at a packed Wembley Stadium.

Early indications were that both would withdraw immediately, with Saudi Arabian boss Turki Alalshikh reportedly keen on a second all-British clash between the two.

However, while Warren confirmed that “Dynamite” would be released again in early 2025, he added that it “may not” involve Joshua again.

I’m talking to DiscussionSPORTQueensberry’s boss stated:

Dubois scored the best win of his career against Joshua last month (Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
Turki Alalshikh reportedly wants to see how Dubois and Joshua respond on the pitch (Image credit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)

He will fight next year, early next year. And we are only looking at a few matches

Hopefully we can do it by next week and he will face us. But he will defend his title and we will see who it will be.

“It might be AJ, it might not. It depends. But whatever happens, he will come out.

Warren says his man could go in a different direction (Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing)
Warren says his man could go in a different direction (Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing)

“He will definitely face someone and take advantage of what he did in that fight.

“I mean, he really, really, announced himself on the world stage in a large way, right?

“I mean, I have no problem with this fight [Joshua rematch]. I would fight all day for him.”

If a rematch with “AJ” is not next, Dubois has been linked with fights against the likes of Joseph Parker, Zhilei Zhang and the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury on December 21.

Many boxing celebrities urged Joshua to stay away from the rematch with “DDD” and some even said he should consider hanging up his gloves.

But his promoter Eddie Hearn insists the Watford player, who celebrated his 36th birthday today, is adamant he wants a chance to get revenge on his younger compatriot.

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