Naoya Inoue Moves a Stride Nearer to Historic Tokyo Clash After Dominant Victory.
The undisputed super-bantamweight king cleared the path for a highly-anticipated all-Japanese mega-bout by retaining his undisputed titles with a clear points victory over the Mexican challenger in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
A Controlled Display from Start to Finish
Universally considered as one of the planet's elite P4P boxers, "The Monster" was in complete control from the opening bell. He neutralized the once-undefeated Picasso with a combination of pinpoint accuracy, lightning hand speed, and sustained aggression. The official judges reflected his superiority with lopsided scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” stated the champion through a translator. “I'm glad I won, but I'm really tired. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Even while conceding significant physical advantages to his opponent, Inoue quickly asserted himself with crisp counters and hurtful body attacks. He wobbled Picasso midway through the bout and consistently broke through his guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the fight progressed.
Laying the Groundwork for a National Spectacle
The triumph arranges a possible historic encounter with fellow countryman Junto Nakatani. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, earning a unanimous decision in his debut at the 122-pound division.
“My goal in this weight class is to become champion,” said the undefeated contender. “If I get that chance, I want to take it.”
The champion responded in kind while stopping short of a firm commitment. “We both performed well this evening,” he noted. “For next year, we will decide what happens. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
The Potential of a Historic Battle
Should it be made, an clash between the two champions bout—widely rumored for 3 May at the legendary venue—would feature two unbeaten, multi-division titleholders in their peak years. This constitutes a unique event in modern boxing and is considered by experts as a contender for the biggest fight in the nation's storied pugilistic heritage.
