The ongoing saga of Luis Nery vs. Shinsuke Yamanaka looks to enter its next stage with Guillermo Brito, director of operations of Zanfer Promotions giving an update on contract negotiations.
Brito said the WBC bantamweight title rematch could indeed happen in March in Japan. Brito said negotiations for the fight have improved and progressed far more than previous negotiation attempts, which means a purse bid will most likely not be needed.
Nery and Yamanaka fought this past August when Nery captured WBC gold by stopping Yamanaka inside four rounds. Unfortunately for Nery, days after the fight, the WBC announced that the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency had detected the substance zilpaterol in Nery's drug test.
Zilpaterol is a substance similar to clenbuterol that could have been acquired by Nery by way of consuming contaminated meat as has happened in previous cases - such as Erik Morales and Francisco Vargas. In a ruling a few months ago, the WBC announced that not only is Nery still considered the world champion, but then he must fight Yamanaka in an immediate rematch. If and when the rematch takes place, the governing body would in fact have a more watchful eye on Nery to make sure Nery doesn't have similar diet issues as with the first fight.
Nery recently fought in November against Arthur Villanueva in a non-title bout while the WBC deliberated on their decision regarding the failed drug test. Brito also recently said Daigo Higa will defend his WBC flyweight title against Moises Fuentes and that fight will also take place in Japan in February.
