Naoya Inoue paved the way for a highly-anticipated all-Japanese mega-bout by successfully defending his championship belts with a clear points victory over the Mexican challenger in Saudi Arabia on fight night.
A Controlled Display Over Twelve Rounds
Universally considered as one of the world's elite P4P fighters, Inoue was in total command from the first round. He neutralized the previously unbeaten Picasso with a blend of devastating precision, lightning hand speed, and relentless pressure. The official judges confirmed his dominance with wide scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 117-111.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” stated the champion through a translator. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Even while conceding significant physical advantages to his opponent, the champion quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and thudding body attacks. He wobbled the Mexican midway through the bout and consistently broke through his guard, compelling him into a survival mode as the fight progressed.
Laying the Groundwork for a Domestic Spectacle
The win arranges a possible blockbuster clash with compatriot Junto Nakatani. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, earning a unanimous decision in his first fight at the super-bantamweight division.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” said Nakatani. “If I get that chance, I want to take it.”
The champion responded in kind without making a definite announcement. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he noted. “For next year, we will decide what happens. The fans can look forward to something special.”
The Prospect of a Historic Battle
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-weight champions in their physical primes. This represents a unique event in modern boxing and is viewed by many as a candidate to be the biggest fight in the nation's storied boxing history.
