Naoya Inoue Moves a Stride Nearer to Historic Japanese Showdown After Dominant Victory.
Naoya Inoue cleared the path for a highly-anticipated all-Japanese mega-bout by retaining his championship belts with a unanimous decision over Alan Picasso in Riyadh on fight night.
A Masterful Performance Over Twelve Rounds
Universally considered as one of the world's top pound-for-pound boxers, Inoue was in complete control from the opening bell. He stifled the once-undefeated challenger with a combination of devastating precision, lightning hand speed, and sustained aggression. The official judges confirmed his superiority with wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” stated Inoue post-fight. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. I'll rest and be much better next time.”
Even while conceding significant height and reach to his foe, Inoue quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and hurtful combinations to the body. He stunned the Mexican midway through the bout and consistently broke through his defensive guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the fight progressed.
Laying the Groundwork for a Domestic Spectacle
The triumph arranges a potential historic encounter with fellow countryman the rising star. Nakatani scored his own win on the undercard, 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. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”
The champion responded in kind without making a firm commitment. “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.”
The Prospect of a Historic Fight
Should it be made, an clash between the two champions bout—widely rumored for 3 May at the iconic venue—would feature two undefeated, multi-weight champions in their peak years. This represents a rarity in today's sport and is viewed by many as a candidate to be the biggest fight in the nation's storied pugilistic heritage.
