Naoya Inoue moved a step closer to the biggest bout in Japanese boxing history after outclassing Alan Picasso by unanimous decision in Riyadh on Saturday, retaining his undisputed super-bantamweight titles and clearing the runway for a long-anticipated showdown with countryman Junto Nakatani.
Inoue, widely regarded as one of the finest pound-for-pound fighters in the world alongside Oleksandr Usyk and the recently retired Terence Crawford, was in control from the opening bell at the Mohammed Abdo Arena, neutralizing the previously unbeaten Mexican challenger with precision, speed and sustained pressure over 12 rounds. The judges scored the contest 120-108, 119-109 and 117-111 in favor of the 32-year-old champion.
The victory marked Inoue’s sixth successful defense of his undisputed crown at 122lb and improved his record to 32-0 with 27 knockouts. While the finish never came, the result was rarely in doubt, even as Picasso showed durability and defiance to hear the final bell.
“This performance wasn’t good enough,” Inoue said afterward through a translator. “I could have done better. I’m glad I won, but I’m really tired. I’ll rest and be much better next time.”
Despite conceding height and reach to Picasso, Inoue quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and crisp combinations, particularly to the body. He wobbled the Mexican midway through the fight and repeatedly pierced his guard, forcing Picasso into a largely defensive shell as the rounds wore on. By the championship rounds, Inoue appeared to be boxing on instinct alone, managing the contest with his jab and well-timed bursts of power.
Picasso, who fell to 32-1-1, landed sporadically but struggled to match Inoue’s timing and hand speed. His corner urged him to take risks late, yet the gulf in class proved too wide to bridge.
The win set the stage for a potential blockbuster clash with Nakatani, who also emerged victorious on the same card, earning a unanimous decision over Sebastian Hernandez in his debut at super-bantamweight. Nakatani, 27, extended his unbeaten record to 32-0 with 24 knockouts and immediately voiced his interest in facing Inoue next.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” Nakatani said. “If I get that chance, I want to take it.”
Inoue echoed the sentiment while stopping short of a formal commitment. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he said. “For next year, we will decide what happens. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
If finalized, an Inoue–Nakatani bout – widely rumored for 3 May at the Tokyo Dome – would pit two undefeated, multi-division champions in their primes against one another, a rarity in modern boxing and a fight many believe would rank as the most significant in Japan’s storied pugilistic history.
