In a dominant display, Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super-bantamweight title by outpointing Alan David Picasso Romero in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Inoue, 32, showcased his superior ring prowess, speed, and combination punching over 12 rounds, earning him a unanimous decision with scores of 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111. Despite the one-sided result, Inoue expressed dissatisfaction with his performance, stating, "My performance tonight is not good enough - I should have done better."
The victory extends Inoue's undefeated record to 32 wins, with 27 of those coming by knockout. This sets the stage for a potential showdown with fellow Japanese boxer Junto Nakatani in 2026.
Nakatani, who also fought on the undercard, secured a controversial decision against Sebastian Hernandez Reyes. The judges scored the bout 115-113 twice, with one judge inexplicably scoring it 118-110, sparking debate among fans and experts.
Inoue, known as 'The Monster' for his devastating knockout power, was largely untroubled by Picasso's attempts throughout the fight. He gradually increased his tempo, landing heavy right hands and hooks to the body, ultimately wearing down his opponent.
The win marks Inoue's fourth successful defense of his undisputed crown in 2025 and solidifies his position as one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters following Terence Crawford's retirement.
Looking ahead, Inoue has hinted at potential moves to featherweight to face Nick Ball or a challenge against Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez. However, fans and Saudi Arabian boxing figure Turki Alalshikh are eager to see an Inoue-Nakatani matchup.
Nakatani, who vacated his WBC and IBF bantamweight titles to move up in weight, improved his record to 32 wins, with 24 coming by stoppage. He expressed his desire to fight for the world championship, stating, "If I'm given the opportunity to fight on that stage, I'll do my best."
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