Inoue vs Nery LIVE: Results and reaction after dramatic fight in Tokyo

Inoue: “This is the first Tokyo Dome boxing event in 34 years, I’m so happy to be here.

“A big surprise happened in the first round!” You can say that again.

“Actually, that happening gave me good motivation and attention.

“I don’t remember anything that my dad told me during the intermission [after the knockdown], but that gave me motivation and focus until the end of the fight.”

Naoya Inoue def. Luis Nery via sixth-round KO (1:22).

Round six

Clean right hand by Inoue! Nery looks a little punch drunk after that one...

OH! BRUTAL KNOCKDOWN BY INOUE! He sends Nery lolloping through the ropes with a short right cross!

The referee thinks about calling it off, Nery’s eyes are glazed over... and it’s DONE!!!

Round five

Great cross and left hook from Inoue. He’s parrying Nery’s jab now, and there’s a counter right hook by Inoue – to the head, as Nery hooks to the body. Great timing by the champion.

Inoue is really turning it up now. There’s a pause, though, as Inoue complains that Nery was leading with his head.

OH!! Down goes Nery again! It’s another left hook!

Nery is back up, but Inoue is tuning the Mexican up now. Nery’s hands are coming down and he’s taking clean punches.

Round four

Clean cross from Inoue, well timed.

This is fun stuff; Inoue is taunting Nery after landing shots, and calling on the Mexican to throw. Now he’s dancing!

That’s brave stuff from a man who was just knocked down a few rounds ago!

Round three

What a fight we have on our hands. Inoue has Nery stumbling, but the Mexican suggests it was a punch to the back of the head.

Snapping jab by Nery. Now a left uppercut to the body. Both men land hooks.

Better spell for Inoue now; he’s landing straight shots.

Oh! A one-two snaps back the head of Nery.

Round two

Straight shots land for both men. Inoue just about blocks a left hook.

There’s a tense spell where neither boxer wants to throw, until Nery goes and Inoue counters with a left hook.

Inoue steps in with a right hook to the body, then DROPS NERY as the challenger chases him! It’s a perfectly-timed counter left hook!

Nery is quickly back on his feet, but Inoue just about had time to celebrate that. He’s getting himself pumped up.

Round one

Inoue stands orthodox, Nery southpaw. Inoue with a BIG overhand right almost immediately, but it’s off-target.

Jab on point for Nery, and another. Now a left hook to the body. Nery leaps in for another hook but misses wildly.

Now Inoue misses with a counter hook, as Nery dives forward.

OH!!! MASSIVE LEFT HOOK FROM NERY! AND INOUE IS DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER! WHAT?! That shot spun him round!

Inoue is back up but looks bewildered! Nery corners him and misses with hooks. Good head movement from Inoue, who lands a counter left.

He blocks a barrage of hooks from Nery now and lands a slick uppercut! He still looks a little uncertain, though...

Not anymore; he’s smiling at Nery! A bit of a glance between them after the bell...

The national anthems are out the way, now here are the fighter introductions, courtesy of Jimmy Lennon Jr.

Plenty of boos for Nery!

HERE WE GO! First bell!

Inoue enters this bout with a professional record of 26-0 (23 KOs), while Nery is 35-1 (27 KOs).

Nery makes his way to the ring first, in front of 55,000 fans in a sold-out Tokyo Dome.

Now here comes Inoue, played out by a live guitarist and with pyro all around him.

Inoue looks SERIOUS. This should be fun.