Challenger Luis Nery of Mexico said Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue is ‘’overrated’’ before his public workout amid a large number of reporters at Tokyo’s Teiken Boxing Gym on Apr. 23 in preparation for his fight with undisputed world super bantamweight champion Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym on May 6 at Tokyo Dome.

  The left-handed Nery and his trainer Samir Rosano answered questions from the press before his training, and Nery said, ‘’When I came to Tokyo before (to fight with Shinsuke Yamanaka of Teiken gym), it was cold. But this time it’s warm, which is good to reduce my weight. I am 10 times or 20 times bettered prepared than before.’’

Nery, a former two-weight world champion, said he currently weighs 57.6 kg (127 lbs), 2.3 kg above the super bantamweight limit.

  Asked about his impression of Inoue, Nery said, ‘’He is a great boxer. But I think he is overrated. He is not a kind of boxer like (superstar) basketball player Michael Jordan.’’ In this connection, Nery cited the fact that Inoue needed 10 rounds to knockout Marlon Tapales (of the Philippines in the super bantamweight title unification fight last December).

  Concerning what he thinks of Inoue’s weak points, Nery said, ‘’I found several and have worked on them. He lacks not only his defense capability but also other things.’’

  According to Rosano, they have received information about Inoue from Inoue’s Mexican sparring partners.

  ‘’I know the upcoming fight will be a tough fight for me and Inoue. While each has a chance to win. I am a Mexican and am ready to die in the ring by showing everything I have in my arsenals.’’

  Shingo Inoue, Naoya’s father and trainer, said after watching his shadowboxing and a round of mitt-hitting practice, ‘’His wild boxing is within the scope of our assumption. His comments were ordinary just like any other boxer. We don’t know if it will become a tough fight or an easy fight until the fight beegins’’

  The 29-year-old Nery has a record of 35 wins, including 27 KOs, against a loss. The 31-year-old Inoue has 26 straight wins, 23 by KO.