In a stunning display of skill and strategy, Japanese boxing sensation Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue showcased his dominance over Alan David Picasso Romero in a match held in Riyadh, successfully defending his undisputed super-bantamweight title. This victory solidifies Inoue’s reputation as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport today.
At 32 years old, Inoue demonstrated exceptional ring intelligence coupled with lightning-fast hands and precise combinations throughout the twelve rounds of the fight. Despite his opponent’s best efforts, the 25-year-old Picasso couldn’t match Inoue's speed or effective body shots, resulting in a lopsided decision from the judges, who scored the bout 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111 in favor of Inoue.
Interestingly, although he emerged victorious, Inoue expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, stating, "My performance tonight is not good enough - I should have done better." This indicates his high standards and ambition, reflecting the mentality of a champion who continually seeks improvement.
With this win, Inoue has maintained an impressive unblemished record of 32 victories, 27 of which have come by knockout. Looking ahead, there are whispers of a potential showdown in 2026 against fellow Japanese boxer Junto Nakatani, who also had a notable night on the undercard by defeating Sebastian Hernandez Reyes in a closely contested match that raised eyebrows due to a controversial scorecard.
Inoue’s remarkable performance comes at a pivotal time in boxing, particularly after the retirement of Terence Crawford, positioning him among the elite alongside heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who was present ringside. After carefully gauging Picasso in the initial rounds, Inoue seamlessly escalated his attack, demonstrating his adaptability and prowess.
While Picasso, with his height and reach, managed to land some effective punches early on, it was clear that Inoue remained largely unperturbed by any threats posed. As the fight progressed, the former middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin, now president of World Boxing, observed closely as Inoue increased the intensity, delivering powerful combinations and pressing forward with unyielding confidence.
Inoue’s heavy rights in the fifth and sixth rounds, along with relentless body shots, visibly hindered Picasso's mobility. Although Picasso attempted a bold left hook in the final round, it was merely a desperate effort as the fight had become a showcase of Inoue’s skill set.
As he defends his undisputed title for the fourth time, Inoue continues to lead by example in the sport, placing him firmly in the running for fighter of the year. Yet, with time perceived as limited, Inoue has various options ahead. Speculations are rife about a potential move up to featherweight to challenge Liverpool’s WBA world champion Nick Ball, alongside welcoming the chance to face the hard-hitting unified super-flyweight champion Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez. However, the matchup that has garnered the most anticipation among fans and notable figures like Saudi Arabian boxing promoter Turki Alalshikh is undoubtedly against Nakatani.
Nakatani’s recent ascent after vacating his WBC and IBF bantamweight titles to compete at a higher weight class has piqued interest. In his latest fight, he was favored against Hernandez, showcasing his sharp uppercuts and effective body work in the opening rounds. Nevertheless, Hernandez rallied in the latter half, landing significant shots that kept the contest competitive, further complicated by a contentious 118-110 scorecard that raises ongoing concerns about judging practices in boxing.
Despite the controversy surrounding the scoring, Nakatani, an accomplished three-weight world champion, improved his record to 32 wins, with 24 by knockout. "I changed my weight class to aim for the world champion," the 27-year-old stated, emphasizing his commitment to seizing opportunities at the highest levels of the sport. If presented with the chance to battle on such a grand stage, he vowed to give it his all.
