The weigh-in the day before the world super bantamweight boxing title match (Tokyo Dome) was held in Tokyo on the 5th, and unified champion Naoya Inoue (Ohashi) weighed 55.2 kg, 100 grams lighter than his limit, and has never been overweight in the past. One challenger, Luis Neri (Mexico), weighed 54.8 kg and passed both in one attempt.
Naoya Inoue cleared the weigh-in the previous day.
It has been 34 years since boxing was held at Tokyo Dome. Over 40,000 spectators are expected.
The six athletes competing in the same box office world competition also cleared the weigh-in in one go. Takuma Inoue (Ohashi), the younger brother of Hisashi Inoue and the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion, and his challenger, Takumi Ishida (Ioka) weighed 53.4 kg, 100 grams lighter than the upper limit. World Boxing Organization (WBO) Bantamweight No. 5 Yuki Takei (Ohashi) and fellow champion Jason Moloney (Australia) both weigh 53.4 kg. WBA flyweight champion Yuri Akui Masago (Kurashiki Moriyasu) and challenger Kuwabara Taku (Ohashi) both weighed 50.7 kg, 100 grams lighter than the upper limit.
◆ Hisashi Inoue: “Perfect again this time” Neri did not respond to an interview with a stern look on his face
There was a deadly atmosphere in the venue. After the weigh-in, Takashi Inoue moved closer to Neri during the customary “face-off” with his opponent. So close that you can almost touch their noses. He showed off his spark for about 20 seconds before being pulled away by officials, and he sounded nervous, saying, “The bargaining begins here. We just have to do it tomorrow.”
Naoya Inoue and Luis Neri face each other after clearing the weigh-in the day before at the Tokyo Dome Hotel on the 5th.
The weigh-in the day before was the most worrying as the person had been overweight in the past. Neri passed on the first try at 54.8kg, 500g lighter than the upper limit. Officials looked relieved, but Hisashi Inoue said matter-of-factly, “Neri will also receive the highest fight money ever, so I thought he would do well.I had no worries.” Neri left the venue without responding to interviews with a stern look on her face from beginning to end.
He also passed the weigh-in at 55.2kg, 100g lighter than the upper limit. Going into his third world match in the super bantamweight division, he is very excited and says, “I’ve somehow gotten the hang of it.This time too, it’s perfect.” All that’s left is to show off with the ring. (Yohei Maruyama)