PROGRAMMING NOTES: Top Rank Presents Naoya Inoue vs. Luis Nery UNDISPUTED TITLE SHOWDOWN
In the main event, undisputed junior featherweight world champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue will defend all the belts against Mexican puncher Luis “Pantera” Nery.
Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) won his first world title in April 2014 and has been flawless ever since. He sports an astounding 21-0 record in world title fights, including 19 knockouts. He was named 2023 Fighter of the Year by ESPN.com and Ring Magazine and makes his 2024 debut intent on solidifying his stranglehold over the division.
Nery (35-1, 27 KOs) is a former two weight world champion who won the WBC title at both bantamweight and junior featherweight. Since his loss to Brandon Figueroa in 2021, he has won four straight fights, including a sensational 11th-round knockout over Azat Hovhannisyan in one of last year’s most intense matches.
In the co-feature, Australia’s WBO bantamweight world champion, Jason “Mayhem” Moloney (27-2, 19 KOs) will defend his belt against rising knockout artist and former kickboxing world champion Yoshiki Takei (8-0, 8 KOs).
The world title quadruple-header also features WBA bantamweight world champion Takuma Inoue (19-1, 5 KOs), younger brother of Naoya, who defends his title against former world title challenger Sho Ishida (34-3, 17 KOs). And, in a flyweight world title tilt, newly minted WBA world champion Seigo Yuri Akui (19-2-1, 11 KOs) battles Taku Kuwahara (13-1, 8 KOs) in a rematch of their 2021 encounter, which Akui won by 10^th-round TKO.
Calling the action will be ESPN’s Joe Tessitore and Hall of Famer, Timothy Bradley, Jr.
ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles
* Top Rank: Real Time (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=8ad9a89ab1&e=ae69d13328) – All-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night.
* Who Do U Fight 4? (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=34776667bc&e=ae69d13328) – Learn what drives the next generation of Top Rank stars.
* State of Boxing (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=85390317d2&e=ae69d13328) – Post-show coverage of the biggest fights on ESPN and ESPN+.
* Best of Boxing Spotlight (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=47380507ce&e=ae69d13328) – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights.
Follow @ESPNRingside: (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=2bd749c1b0&e=ae69d13328) https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=f438558cd8&e=ae69d13328 Instagram (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=0a28d5775e&e=ae69d13328) X (Twitter) (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=4398962b72&e=ae69d13328) TikTok (https://TopRank.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=aa1ae9f9e3c18dcf7df10dda1&id=91763c3690&e=ae69d13328)
Inoue vs. Nery (All Times ET)
Date Time Event Fights Title Platform
Mon., May 6 4:00 a.m.
Main Naoya Inoue (C) vs. Luis Nery
IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO Jr. Featherweight
ESPN+
Co-Feature Jason Moloney (C) vs. Yoshiki Takei WBO Bantamweight
Undercard Takuma Inoue (C) vs. Sho Ishida WBA Bantamweight
Undercard Seigo Yuri Akui (C) vs. Taku Kuwahara WBA Flyweigh
