Naoya Inoue Moves a Step Nearer to Historic Japanese Showdown After Commanding Win.
Naoya Inoue paved the way for a long-awaited domestic super-fight by successfully defending his championship belts with a unanimous decision over Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
A Controlled Display from Start to Finish
Universally considered as one of the world's elite P4P boxers, Inoue was in total command from the first round. He stifled the previously unbeaten challenger with a blend of pinpoint accuracy, blistering speed, and sustained aggression. The official judges reflected his superiority with wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.
“I could have done better,” stated Inoue post-fight. “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 foe, Inoue quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and hurtful combinations to the body. He wobbled the Mexican midway through the bout and consistently broke through his guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the fight progressed.
Setting the Stage for a National Spectacle
The win sets up a potential historic encounter with fellow countryman the rising star. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, earning a unanimous decision in his first fight at the 122-pound limit.
“My goal in this weight class is to become champion,” declared the undefeated contender. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”
The champion responded in kind while stopping short of a firm commitment. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he commented. “For next year, we will decide what happens. The fans can look forward to something special.”
The Prospect of a Historic Battle
Should it be made, an clash between the two champions bout—widely rumored for early May at the legendary Tokyo Dome—would pit two undefeated, multi-division titleholders in their physical primes. This represents a unique event in today's sport and is considered by experts as a candidate to be the biggest contest in the nation's storied boxing history.
