Naoya Inoue Moves a Stride Closer to Historic Tokyo Clash After Dominant Win.
Naoya Inoue paved the way for a highly-anticipated all-Japanese mega-bout by retaining his championship belts with a unanimous decision over the Mexican challenger in Riyadh on fight night.
A Masterful Display from Start to Finish
Widely regarded as one of the world's elite P4P boxers, "The Monster" was in complete control from the opening bell. He neutralized the once-undefeated Picasso with a combination of pinpoint accuracy, blistering speed, and sustained aggression. The official judges reflected his superiority with wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” remarked Inoue post-fight. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Despite giving up significant height and reach to his opponent, Inoue quickly asserted himself with crisp counters and thudding body attacks. He wobbled Picasso in the middle rounds and consistently broke through his defensive guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the fight progressed.
Setting the Stage for a National Spectacle
The win arranges a possible historic encounter with compatriot Junto Nakatani. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, securing a points victory in his debut at the super-bantamweight division.
“My goal in this weight class is to become champion,” declared Nakatani. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”
The champion echoed the interest without making a firm commitment. “We both performed well this evening,” he commented. “For next year, we will decide what happens. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
The Potential of a Historic Fight
Should it be made, an Inoue–Nakatani fight—heavily speculated for 3 May at the iconic venue—would pit two undefeated, multi-division titleholders in their physical primes. This constitutes a unique event in today's sport and is considered by experts as a contender for the most significant fight in the nation's storied boxing history.
