Luis Nery defeats a game Aaron Alameda for WBC junior featherweight title

Luis Nery and Aaron Alameda fought for the vacant WBC junior featherweight title on the undercard on the Charlo brothers pay-per-view event.

Luis Nery knows what it’s like to be a champion. He held the WBC bantamweight title, but the scale proved to be his most formidable opponent. He moved up to junior featherweight against undefeated Aaron Alameda on the undercard of the Charlo brother’s doubleheader.

Weeks before the fight, Alameda admitted that Nery was a big step up in competition, but he felt that he knew how to beat Nery.

“This is definitely a step-up for me, we aren’t denying that,” said Alameda during the first press conference. “But strategically, we have worked on certain things that we know are going to help come fight night.”

Alameda’s strategy was sound, but Nery’s ability made employing it difficult.

Alameda tried to box Nery in round 1, but Nery’s power made him shell up defensively pretty quickly. Nery steadily moved forward as he tried to walk through Alameda. The difference in punching power showed early.

Alameda relied on his jab in round 2 and tried to work off it. He looked more relaxed and made Nery retreat at times. Nery didn’t look as comfortable and didn’t land as crisply as he did in the first.

Nery and Alameda traded blows in round 3. Both landed, but Alameda’s boxing and quick hands got the better of the former champion.

Nery pounded on Alameda’s body in round 4. He made up some ground in the contest with his emphasis on bodywork. It was a smart move that briefly turned the tide in the fight.

The tug-of-war for control of the fight continued in round 5. Alameda re-established his jab and kept Nery away. Nery looked confused and lost the momentum from the previous round. He rallied a bit at the end, but Nery lost the round.

Luis Nery and Aaron Alameda went back and forth all night. It was a tough matchup and a competitive bout.

Nery didn’t get dejected. He stormed back with authority and won the majority of the remainder of the fight. Alameda looked fantastic for the first half of the contest but faded during the second half.

Nery’s hooks to Alameda’s body got him back in the fight. By round 9, Nery was entirely in control, and he bullied Alameda around the ring. His power was the difference, and it wore on Alameda down.

Just when it looked like Nery was going to cruise to a decision victory, Alameda found another gear and outworked Nery in round 10. He tagged Nery with a hard left uppercut to put his stamp on the round.

Round 11 could have gone either way, but round 12 belonged to Nery. He swung for the fences and tried to land the homerun punch. It never came, but his effort put Alameda on the defensive and looked good to the judges. He ended the fight like a champion.

It was a close fight where both men had their moments, but the judges scored it a unanimous decision for Nery, who’s now the WBC junior featherweight champion. Nery’s weight concerns are behind him, and he’s a champion once more.