Arum Set For ‘The Most Important Boxing Event In The History Of Japan’
May 4, 2024 • 4:19 AM ET
TOKYO – Amid respectful scenes in Yokohama between Naoya Inoue and Mexican opponent Luis Nery ahead of their unified super bantamweight title fight on Monday night, promoter Bob Arum was in fine form.
“This is, I think, the greatest, most important boxing event in the history of Japan,” said the veteran Top Rank boss at today’s press conference.
“After so many years since Mike Tyson and Buster Douglas fought in the Tokyo Dome [in 1990], boxing is back at that famous, huge stadium in Tokyo for this event. All eyes of the boxing world will be on Tokyo on Monday night when this event will be held.”
A crowd of around 55,000 is expected in the Dome, with Nery – the support act – aiming to spoil what is definitely set up as the Inoue show, is hoping to crash the party.
“The challenger, Nery, is a familiar face here in Japan and he is one of the best fighters in the lighter weight divisions in the world,” Arum added.
“Like all Mexican fighters, he will come here to do his best to emerge victorious on Monday night.”
Inoue, however, is a convincing betting favorite and Arum was in now doubt about where the global interest lies in Monday’s blockbuster event.
“’Monster’ Inoue is now a legend in the sport of boxing,” Arum continued. “He is recognized in the sport all over the world as pound for pound the number one fighter in the world.
“And so boxing fans not only here in Japan but all over the world will be watching this event to see the ‘Monster’ perform, because he is always Mr Excitement.
“This will go down in history as a memorable, memorable event in the history of the sport of boxing.”
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
