In a night packed with pageantry, punches, and raw power, Naoya “The Monster” Inoue delivered a spectacle worthy of the 55,000 fans who roared inside the Tokyo Dome — the same venue that once saw Buster Douglas topple Mike Tyson. On Monday night, it was Inoue who reaffirmed his reign, climbing off the canvas to demolish Luis Nery in six electrifying rounds to retain his undisputed super bantamweight crown.

For the first time in his glittering, unbeaten career, Inoue tasted the canvas after a blistering counter left from Nery in the opening round. But if the Mexican challenger thought he’d ignited a historic upset, the fire he lit in Inoue only burned brighter.

The undefeated pound-for-pound king bounced back with venom in the second, returning the favour with a punishing counter left hook that floored Nery. From there, Inoue orchestrated a masterclass in controlled aggression, systematically dismantling his opponent with a blend of speed, precision, and raw finishing power.

Nery, a former two-weight world champion, fought valiantly but was clearly outgunned. He hit the deck again in round five and was saved by the bell, but the end was inevitable. In the sixth, Inoue unleashed a thunderous right hand that nearly launched Nery through the ropes, forcing the referee to wave off the fight at 1:22.

It was a devastating finale in a fight that had begun with genuine jeopardy — a reminder that even the greats can be caught, but only the elite rise and dominate. Inoue’s record now stands at a pristine 27-0 with 24 knockouts, as he notched his 22nd world title victory exactly a decade after winning his first.

The evening was as much about spectacle as sport. Inoue’s entrance was a rock concert in boxing gloves, sound tracked by Tomoyasu Hotei’s iconic “Battle Without Honour or Humanity,” as fireworks lit up the Dome. The energy was electric, the expectations massive — and Inoue delivered on all fronts.

Having already cleared out the division, the future remains uncertain for Inoue. But after another ruthless display, the question isn’t whether he’s the best at 122 pounds — it’s whether anyone, anywhere, can stop the Monster.