Naoya Inoue Takes a Stride Closer to Historic Japanese Clash After Dominant Win.
Naoya Inoue paved the way for a long-awaited all-Japanese super-fight by retaining his championship belts with a clear points victory over Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia on fight night.
A Controlled Display from Start to Finish
Widely regarded as one of the planet's top P4P boxers, Inoue was in complete control from the first round. He neutralized the previously unbeaten challenger with a combination of devastating precision, blistering speed, and sustained aggression. The scorecards reflected his dominance with lopsided scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 117-111.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” stated Inoue post-fight. “I'm glad I won, but I'm really tired. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Despite giving up considerable height and reach to his foe, the champion imposed his will with sharp counterpunching and thudding combinations to the body. He wobbled the Mexican midway through the bout and repeatedly pierced his defensive guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the fight progressed.
Laying the Groundwork for a Domestic Blockbuster
The triumph sets up a possible historic encounter with compatriot Junto Nakatani. He also emerged victorious on the undercard, securing a unanimous decision in his first fight at the super-bantamweight limit.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” declared the undefeated contender. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”
Inoue 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. The fans can look forward to something special.”
The Prospect of a Historic Fight
Should it be made, an clash between the two champions fight—widely rumored for 3 May at the iconic Tokyo Dome—would pit two unbeaten, multi-weight titleholders in their physical primes. This represents a rarity in today's sport and is viewed by many as a candidate to be the biggest contest in the nation's storied boxing history.
