Generational talent Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) lies on the cusp of being the next greatest fighter in the modern era after his unanimous points decision victory over Alan Picasso on Saturday (27 December) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
As expected, ‘The Monster’ was successful and almost flawless in his performance in defeating the previously undefeated Mexican.
What his next step will be is still uncertain, but it’s likely to be an all-Japanese ‘Superfight’ with other multi-weight ‘world’ champion and undefeated southpaw Junto Nakatini next spring.
Top Rank and other promoters have pencilled in 3 May in the enormous Tokyo Dome (famous in fistic history for Mike Tyson’s shocking February 990 defeat by James ‘Buster’ Douglas). The indoor arena is reserved for major sporting and entertainment events and this is sure to fit the bill.
Inoue v Nakatani is probably the biggest fight in world boxing at the moment and will be awaited with much salivating. To illustrate this The Ring magazine dedicated their December cover and much of it’s content to what they declared the ‘Perfect Storm’ should both fighters come through last Saturday. This they did.
In the impressive Ring V promotion, part of the Kingdom’s Riyadh Season, both fighters fulfilled their part of the deal in their so-called ‘semi-finals’ to make their Superfight an immediate possibility. Most knowledgeable boxing fans were aware of this beforehand but waited with baited breath (as I did) as the events unfolded.
Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs), first laboured at times to a 115-113 draw on two cards and sealed it with a wide of the mark 118-110 on the third to register a unanimous decision win. Banking most of the early and mid-rounds he had to rally from being dropped late by teak-tough Sebastian Hernandez in a sensational fight which will have raised the latter’s stock. This was Nakatani’s first venture in a new weight class after winning ‘world’ titles in three lighter divisions. It was some baptism !
For Inoue, a four-weight world champion, the victory was much more routine turning in a clear shutout 112-108 on one card and 119-109, 117-111 on two others. In victory, he retained his undisputed junior-featherweight (122lbs/8st, 10lbs title), The Ring magazine belt and almost God-like status in Japan. He sat pre-fight at #2 in the mythical pound-for-pound rankings behind heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
The southpaw stylist (Nakatani) against the powerpunching ‘Monster’ looks like being the standout Superfight for 2026.
We can’t wait !
The Undisputed 