Naoya Inoue Moves a Step Closer to Landmark Tokyo Clash After Dominant Win.
The undisputed super-bantamweight king cleared the path for a long-awaited domestic mega-bout by retaining his championship belts with a unanimous decision over Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia on fight night.
A Masterful Display from Start to Finish
Universally considered as one of the world's elite pound-for-pound boxers, Inoue was in total command from the opening bell. He stifled the once-undefeated challenger with a blend of pinpoint accuracy, lightning hand speed, and sustained aggression. The official judges confirmed his dominance with wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.
“I could have done better,” remarked Inoue post-fight. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Despite giving up considerable height and reach to his opponent, Inoue quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and hurtful combinations to the body. He wobbled the Mexican midway through the bout and repeatedly pierced his guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the contest progressed.
Laying the Groundwork for a Domestic Blockbuster
The triumph sets up a potential historic encounter with fellow countryman Junto Nakatani. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, securing a points victory in his first fight at the super-bantamweight division.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” declared the undefeated contender. “If I get that chance, I want to take it.”
The champion responded in kind while stopping short of a definite announcement. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he commented. “For next year, we will decide what happens. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
The Potential of a Generation-Defining Fight
Should it be made, an Inoue–Nakatani fight—widely rumored for 3 May at the legendary venue—would pit two undefeated, multi-weight titleholders in their physical primes. This represents a unique event in today's sport and is considered by experts as a candidate to be the biggest contest in Japan's rich boxing history.
