Naoya Inoue paved the way for a long-awaited domestic super-fight by successfully defending his undisputed titles with a unanimous decision over Alan Picasso in Riyadh on Saturday.
Widely regarded as one of the world's top P4P fighters, Inoue was in complete control from the opening bell. He neutralized the previously unbeaten challenger with a blend of devastating precision, lightning hand speed, and relentless pressure. The official judges confirmed his superiority with lopsided scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 117-111.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” stated the champion post-fight. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Despite giving up significant physical advantages to his foe, the champion quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and thudding body attacks. He stunned Picasso midway through the bout and consistently broke through his defensive guard, compelling him into a survival mode as the contest progressed.
The triumph arranges a possible blockbuster clash with compatriot Junto Nakatani. Nakatani also emerged victorious on the undercard, earning a points victory in his first fight at the 122-pound division.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” said Nakatani. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”
The champion echoed the interest without making a definite announcement. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he commented. “Plans for next year will be made in due course. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
Should it be made, an clash between the two champions fight—widely rumored for early May at the iconic Tokyo Dome—would pit two unbeaten, multi-division titleholders in their peak years. This constitutes a rarity in modern boxing and is viewed by many as a candidate to be the most significant contest in Japan's rich boxing history.