UNANIMOUS BUT UNHAPPY? FIND OUT WHY INOUE APOLOGIZED AFTER BEATING ALAN PICASSO
Naoya Inoue defeats Alan Picasso by unanimous decision in Riyadh. "The Monster" admits fatigue after his 4th win of 2025.
Naoya Inoue of Japan, still undefeated, mentioned he was beat after his unanimous decision victory over Alan Picasso from Mexico in Riyadh this Saturday. This marks his fourth victory in the fourth month of 2025.
The Monster, as he’s called, defended his super bantamweight titles for the sixth time. This fight was his Saudi Arabia debut after inking a deal with Turki Alalshikh, the guy steering the ship in the kingdom's boxing scene.
Even so, he couldn't quite knock out the tough Picasso and had to settle for a unanimous decision, his second in a row.
At 32, Inoue's year has been packed, and he chalked up his performance, which he admitted wasn't good, to being worn out.
"I'm tired, to be real," he confessed after his record hit 32 wins, with 27 by knockout. It's not just about the four fights, but all the hard work prepping for them.
You can handle it when it's happening because you're just thinking about the fight, but now that it's done, I see that I really gave all I had, he continued.
Inoue's win opens the door for a potentially huge fight with fellow countryman Junto Nakatani in Tokyo next year. Nakatani also won by unanimous decision against Sebastian Hernandez of Mexico earlier that night in his first super bantamweight fight.
Inoue pointed out that nothing's set in stone yet but said he’d love to set up a fight that would get everyone in Japan hyped.
Against Picasso, Inoue was eight centimeters shorter. Picasso also came into the fight without a loss, just one draw in 32 wins.
From the get-go, Inoue's skill was clear as he landed some solid hits in the early rounds.
In the sixth, Inoue shook Picasso again, but the Mexican fighter started throwing punches.
Picasso hung in there, making it to the 12th round, but the judges' decision was pretty clear by then.
This is the second fight in a row that Inoue has gone the distance, after beating Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan by unanimous decision back in September.
"No disrespect to Picasso, but I wanted to show a bigger difference between us and knock him down," Inoue said. I didn't live up to my own expectations or fight the way I wanted to.
Nakatani got a reality check in the super bantamweight division in his fight against Hernandez.
The 27-year-old seemed good in the first half, but Hernandez wouldn't give up and fought his way back into the game.
Nakatani did just enough to win and kept his record perfect at 32 wins, 24 by knockout.
He called the fight an experience and is hoping to fight Inoue next.
"I moved up to this division to win world titles, so if I get the chance, I want to take it," Nakatani stated.
UNDISPUTED CHAMPION NAOYA INOUE CONFIRMS "READY STATE" AHEAD OF BLOCKBUSTER TOKYO DOME CLASH
A historic showdown: 32-0 champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani clash at the Tokyo Dome. Get the latest predictions and hype.
Everyone’s buzzing about the Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani showdown. It’s not just a big deal in Japan; it’s the kind of fight that’ll have the whole boxing world glued to their screens. They’re set to meet at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, and people are calling this the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. You can feel the hype.
Both Inoue and Nakatani come in unbeaten, with matching records of 32–0. That alone turns this into something special. Inoue’s undisputed super bantamweight title is up for grabs, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Everyone’s got an opinion: fighters, experts, fans, and now the Moloney brothers from Australia have jumped in with their predictions. Jason Moloney knows what it’s like to face Inoue. Back in 2020, he shared the ring with him in Vegas and got stopped in the seventh. Jason respects Nakatani’s style; it’s awkward, rangy, and tricky to handle. He wonders how Inoue will crack that code but, honestly, he doesn’t see anyone beating Inoue right now. “As good as Nakatani is, I don’t think anyone can beat Inoue at the moment. I see Inoue winning the fight,” Jason said.
He talked about how Inoue’s just so well-rounded. Good at everything, no matter where the fight goes. Still, Jason pointed out Inoue’s willingness to trade his aggression makes him fun to watch, but it’s got him hurt in recent fights. Even so, Jason’s sticking to his prediction: Nakatani will have moments, but he’s backing Inoue.
Andrew Moloney fought Nakatani last year and went the distance. He sees Inoue as explosive ones with that snap in their movement and punches. Andrew respects Nakatani’s size, his speed, and his power but thinks Inoue’s footwork and explosiveness will be the difference. “Inoue’s explosiveness and foot speed will be the edge, closing the distance and letting go of those dynamite punches.”
Both Moloney brothers agree. Inoue’s got what it takes to win.
This fight’s not just about impressive records; it’s got two guys who’ve dominated their weight divisions. Inoue’s seen as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters right now. Nakatani’s got size, reach, and that unpredictable style, which could throw Inoue off. And since both men can finish a fight, expect real fireworks. This isn’t one to miss.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR JOSHUA VS. DEONTAY WILDER HAVE COLLAPSED; JOSHUA TARGETS FURY FOR NOVEMBER
The decade-long pursuit of Wilder vs Joshua has ended. With AJ targeting Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder now eyes a clash with Andy Ruiz.
After nearly a decade of attempts, the prospect of Deontay Wilder facing Anthony Joshua has finally fallen apart. As chronicled by World Boxing News from start to finish, this fight just isn’t happening anymore.
Joshua’s focus is shifting. By 2026, he’s aiming for a major British showdown with Tyson Fury, which means Wilder’s chances of being his next opponent are slim. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has essentially dismissed the idea of Wilder as a tune-up fight, leaving Wilder out of the equation for the Londoner’s upcoming plans.
Joshua is expected to have a warm-up bout this summer before engaging in two fights against Fury. By the time Joshua is back on the scene for a world title shot, Wilder will be close to 42 years old, pushing him to look elsewhere.
That opens the door for other contenders. Moses Itauma, a fellow Brit, has stepped forward, expressing interest in facing Wilder. It’s a risky move, given Wilder's power, and some see it as a misstep for the Bronze Bomber.
More intriguing, though, is a possible showdown in the US against Andy Ruiz Jr. Talks about that fight have floated around since 2020, delayed first by the Fury-Joshua trilogy and then by contractual issues on Ruiz’s side. When negotiations were alive, financial disagreements caused a breakdown, but fan interest has remained strong. World Boxing News reported a surge in fan demand, generating millions of impressions, pushing for this matchup.
Following their recent face-off at Allegiant Stadium in September, Wilder vs. Ruiz looks like a viable path if either aims to work back toward a heavyweight title opportunity.
With Joshua out of the picture, Wilder’s next steps are under close watch. Suggestions of a rematch with Derek Chisora haven’t gained much traction. Whether he goes after an up-and-comer like Itauma or revisits the Ruiz rivalry, that choice will be critical in determining how Wilder reasserts himself in the heavyweight division.
A title shot isn’t off the table, but the next fight has to be carefully chosen to keep those chances alive.
