Inoue Dominates Title Defense as Riyadh Solidifies Status in Global Boxing
Riyadh, Saturday, 27 December 2025.
Naoya Inoue commands the ring with shutout 80-72 scorecards, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s strategic emergence as a premier destination for high-value international sporting events.
The Monster Reigns in Riyadh
Naoya “The Monster” Inoue successfully defended his undisputed super bantamweight championship today at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s most formidable athletes [1][4]. Entering the ring with a flawless record, Inoue improved to 31-0 following his bout against the undefeated challenger Alan “David” Picasso [4]. The event, broadcast globally on DAZN Pay-Per-View, highlights the Kingdom’s aggressive expansion into the business of combat sports, serving as a neutral ground for premium international matchups [1][2][4]. By the eighth round, the disparity in skill was numerically evident on the scorecards, with judges scoring the contest a shutout 80-72 in favor of the Japanese champion [1].
Statistical Dominance
Inoue’s performance was characterized by surgical offensive output rather than mere aggression. Statistical analysis from the bout reveals that Inoue landed a total of 199 punches compared to Picasso’s 98, effectively doubling his opponent’s connection rate [1]. Specifically, the champion outlanded Picasso 105-56 in power punches and maintained distance control with a 94-42 advantage in jabs [1]. The physical toll on the challenger was visible by the middle rounds; in Round 6, Picasso reportedly signaled to his corner team that he had sustained significant body damage, a hallmark of Inoue’s punishing style [1]. This victory follows a busy 2025 calendar for Inoue, which included defenses against Ye Joon Kim in January, Ramon Cardenas in May, and Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September [1].
Undercard Implications and Future Matchups
The “Ring V: Night of the Samurai” card also featured a critical bout for the division’s future landscape [1][5]. Junto Nakatani, making his super bantamweight debut, secured a unanimous decision victory over Sebastian Hernandez Reyes with scores of 115-113, 115-113, and 118-110 [4]. Nakatani, who relinquished his bantamweight titles to move up in weight, faced stiff resistance, with Hernandez landing a strong left hook in the penultimate round that caused visible swelling on Nakatani’s eye [4]. Despite the competitive nature of the fight—Hernandez claimed rounds 6 through 9 on some cards due to relentless pressure—Nakatani’s power shots and uppercuts in the earlier rounds proved decisive [1][4]. Elsewhere on the card, Japanese prospect Reito Tsutsumi improved his record to 4-0 with a fourth-round TKO victory over Leobardo Quintana [5].
The Road to Tokyo 2026
With both Japanese stars securing victories in Saudi Arabia today, the financial and logistical path is now cleared for a domestic super-fight of historical magnitude. Plans are currently projected for a unification clash between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome in May 2026 [1]. This potential matchup would likely serve as a massive economic driver for the Japanese boxing market, capitalizing on the momentum built by these global showcases in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the boxing calendar remains active, with upcoming bouts including Amanda Serrano defending her titles in January 2026 and Teofimo Lopez Jr. slated to fight Shakur Stevenson later that month [6].