Former two-division world champion, Luis “Pantera” Nery (34-1, 26 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico is looking eye-to-eye with a major opportunity after his crowd pleasing knockout win over Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (21-4, 17 KOs) of Los Angeles in the eleventh round, of their schedule 12-round fight on Saturday, February 18th. Nery, who is now riding a three-fight win steak since losing to Brandon Figueroa appears poised to get himself in position as one of the best super bantamweights in the world, if he isn’t labeled that already.
In a fight many ringside observers hailed as an early contender for Fight of the Year, drawing comparisons to Arturo Gatti vs Micky Ward, and Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado, Nery found himself in a modern classic at the Fox Theater Pomona, that was seen worldwide broadcast exclusively worldwide on DAZN.
“I knew this was going to be a very difficult fight, Azat is a very tough fighter,” said Luis Nery when in a post-fight media scrum. “We gave the fans an incredible show. I want the winner between Naoya Inoue and Stephen Fulton. I feel ready for a world championship.”
Luis Nery is now on a three-fight win streak after being stopped by Brandon Figueroa in May of 2021, as Nery now holds wins over Carlos Castro and Hovhannisyan who are highly rated super bantamweights.. Nery also ended the run Hovhannisyan was on, as the seven-fight win streak that had spanned across four-and-a-half years is no more for the Armenia fight.
“We’re looking for Naoya Inoue - we think it is a big fight, and [I] think I will finish him,” said Nery via a translator to Fight Hub TV.
With the win, Luis Nery is now the #1 contender, for WBC super bantamweight world title, which is currently held by Stephen Fulton Jr., but it is rumored Fulton Jr., will face former undisputed 118 lbs champion Naoya Inoue in Inoue’s first bout at 122 lbs later this year.
“Of course [I] am going to be active,” Nery said in that same Fight Hub TV interview via translator when asked if he would stay active or opt for to wait for the winner of Stephen Fulton Jr. vs Naoya Inoue. “[I am] a star, [I] can fight whenever [I] want, [I] don’t need a belt.”
Former world champion Luis Nery is now in the running for not just another world title, but fight of the year honors as well, after Nery stopped Hovhannisyan in the eleventh round of a scheduled twelve round bout.
Nery snapped Azat Hovhannisyan’s seven-fight win streak across four-and-a-half years, with the win.
After the fight, Nery made it clear that he will stay active regardless of what happens with the WBC super bantamweight title, as it is rumored Stephen Fulton Jr., the current world champion will face Naoya Inoue, in the former 118 lbs undisputed champions first fight at 122 lbs.
Nery stated through a translator that he is not going to wait around and that he is a star and can fight even without a belt. Nery also mentioned in that same Fight Hub TV interview that he would like to fight Naoya Inoue and believes he will knock out Inoue.
