Boxing fans worldwide tuned in for a dazzling display of skill and grit at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super bantamweight world title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Alan David Picasso. The event, aptly billed as 'The Ring V: Night of the Samurai,' delivered high drama, technical mastery, and a clear signal that Japan’s boxing scene is surging toward a historic showdown.
Inoue, already regarded as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound elites, improved his flawless record to 31-0 (27 KOs) after outclassing the previously unbeaten Picasso (32-1-1, 17 KOs) over twelve rounds. The judges scored the bout 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111—all in favor of the Japanese superstar—reflecting the one-sided nature of the contest. Yet, despite the wide victory, Inoue was his own harshest critic post-fight, telling the assembled media through a translator, "I was unhappy with my performance tonight and I should've done better."
It’s a remarkable admission from a fighter who, by the numbers, delivered a near-shutout. Inoue’s jab was a thing of beauty, repeatedly snapping Picasso’s head back and setting up vicious combinations. He landed 105 power punches to Picasso’s 56, and outjabbed his Mexican challenger 94-42. From the opening bell, Inoue’s hand speed and ring generalship were on full display, pushing Picasso onto the back foot and dictating the pace.
The early rounds saw Inoue probing with his jab and testing Picasso’s defenses. By round two, the Japanese champion ramped up the pressure, unleashing a torrent of combinations that had Picasso covering up. Picasso, to his credit, showed flashes of his own skill—countering with left hooks and rallying when backed to the ropes—but Inoue’s relentless body work began to tell. Between rounds six and seven, Picasso confided to his corner that he was hurt by a left hook to the body, a moment that seemed to sap his aggression for much of the latter half of the fight.
The middle rounds were a masterclass from Inoue. He mixed sharp one-twos with punishing hooks, both upstairs and to the midsection, forcing Picasso to shell up and absorb punishment. Picasso’s best moments came in the exchanges, particularly in the twelfth and final round, when he bravely met Inoue head-on in a flurry of punches. Still, the champion’s class shone through as he closed the show with crisp power shots and controlled aggression.
For Inoue, this was his fourth fight of a grueling 2025 campaign—a schedule virtually unheard of for a reigning, undisputed champion in the modern era. He admitted after the bout that rest is now a priority, saying, "I want to rest after four fights in 2025." Despite his self-critique, Inoue’s dominance was never in doubt. The win also marked the first time in his storied career that he has gone the distance in back-to-back fights, a testament to the ever-increasing level of competition he faces at the summit of the sport.
Picasso, who entered the ring as the WBC’s No. 1 contender and an undefeated challenger, proved game but ultimately outgunned. He had some success with left hook counters and combinations to the body, but Inoue’s superior timing and tactical acumen kept him a step behind. The Mexican’s willingness to trade faded after the punishing body assault in round six, and he spent much of the final rounds in survival mode, covering up as Inoue picked his spots.
The night’s co-feature saw another Japanese star, Junto Nakatani, edge out Sebastian Hernandez Reyes by unanimous decision (115-113, 115-113, 118-110) in his own super bantamweight debut. Nakatani, a three-division world champion, looked in control early, using his southpaw stance and uppercuts to keep Hernandez at bay. But Hernandez surged in the later rounds, swelling Nakatani’s right eye and forcing a grueling, close contest. Two judges had it razor-thin for Nakatani, while the third scored it a wide 118-110, indicating how competitive the fight truly was.
With both Inoue and Nakatani victorious on the same card and now sharing the 122-pound division, all eyes are turning to a potential Japanese superfight next spring at the Tokyo Dome. The bout, long rumored and eagerly anticipated, would pit Uncrowned’s No. 3 pound-for-pound boxer (Inoue) against No. 6 (Nakatani) in a clash of undefeated stars. The prospect of such a showdown has boxing fans and pundits buzzing, especially given both men’s performances in Riyadh.
The rest of the card saw Eridson Garcia claim a split decision victory over Taiga Imanaga in the lightweight division (96-93, 95-94 Garcia; 95-94 Imanaga), and Reito Tsutsumi stop Leobardo Quintana with a fourth-round TKO. A scheduled IBF super flyweight title fight between Willibaldo Garcia and Kenshiro Teraji was canceled due to Garcia’s hospitalization, slightly delaying the start of the main card but not dampening the evening’s excitement.
Broadcast globally on DAZN, the event drew an international audience, with fans able to tune in via pay-per-view or DAZN’s new Ultimate Tier subscription. The main event ringwalk took place just before 8 a.m. ET, capping off a marathon night of world-class boxing in Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning fight scene.
Inoue entered as a massive favorite, with bookmakers giving him a -3500 moneyline and Picasso a +1300 underdog status. The odds proved prescient, as Inoue’s technical brilliance and ring IQ left little doubt about the outcome, even if the champion himself felt he could have done more. As the dust settles in Riyadh, anticipation now turns to what could be one of the biggest all-Japanese showdowns in modern boxing history.
With both fighters unbeaten and the Tokyo Dome beckoning, the stage is set for a blockbuster in 2026. For now, Inoue’s legacy continues to grow, his star shines brighter than ever, and the world waits to see if anyone can truly challenge "The Monster" at super bantamweight.
