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.
THE EIGHT-FIGURE GAMBLE: CONOR BENN SIGNS A MASSIVE ONE-FIGHT DEAL WITH ZUFFA BOXING
Conor Benn joins Zuffa Boxing! Discover why he left Eddie Hearn, the details of his 8-figure deal, and Dana White's global plans.
Zuffa Boxing just landed one of the top welterweights out there, Conor Benn. The up-and-coming promotion announced Benn’s signing, adding even more star power to its growing roster.
Benn, 29, is riding high after a huge win over Chris Eubank Jr last November, finally getting his revenge after Eubank handed him his first-ever loss just seven months before. Right now, Benn stands at 24-1, with 14 knockouts. He’s held the WBA Continental Europe Welterweight title, too. There’s no date or opponent set for his Zuffa debut yet, but this is a big move for Dana White and his crew, who are serious about building a roster packed with champions and big names.
“I’m filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing,” Benn said in a press release. “I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I’m ready to give the fans the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.”
Dana White is just as fired up. “Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar,” he said. “He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out. He’s ready for a world title next, and I can’t wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing. He’s going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers.”
Sports Illustrated reports that Benn’s contract is a one-fight, eight-figure deal, though neither White nor Benn has confirmed that.
This move also heats the ongoing rivalry between Dana White and Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. Benn had been with Hearn ever since he turned pro in 2016, but now he’s switched sides. Earlier this year, White and his team also grabbed IBF and The Ring cruiserweight champ Jai Opetaia, another former Hearn fighter.
Lately, Hearn and White have been trading shots in the media, which is wild considering they used to get along before White jumped into boxing. With two big signings already in the bag, Zuffa is out to prove it means business. And you just know they’re not stopping here.
CRIS CYBORG EYES HISTORY: MMA LEGEND SET FOR WIBA WORLD TITLE BOXING MATCH ON MARCH 28
Cris Cyborg makes history! Discover how she plans to hold MMA and boxing world titles simultaneously on March 28 in Brazil.
Cris Cyborg is about to chase a slice of history on March 28.
Since leaving the UFC back in 2019, the former featherweight champ hasn’t slowed down one bit. She grabbed the Bellator 145-pound title, then picked up another belt in the Professional Fighters League. It’s like every time she shows up somewhere new, she leaves with gold.
Now, in 2026, Cyborg says she’s on her retirement tour. But she’s not just coasting to the finish line; she’s still looking to add something big to her legacy. This time, she’s stepping into a boxing ring, not an MMA cage.
It’s been a while since Cyborg lost a fight. That was back at UFC 232 against Amanda Nunes. Since then? She’s rattled off nine straight wins in MMA, but that’s only half the story. She started boxing in 2022, and she hasn’t lost there either: seven wins, no defeats.
On March 28, Cyborg gets her biggest boxing test yet. She’ll fight Paulina Cardona for the WIBA super welterweight belt. Winning would make her the first fighter ever to hold world titles in both MMA and boxing at the same time. Big names like Amanda Serrano and Holly Holm have held this belt before, so it’s not just any title.
Journalist James Lynch broke the news online and pointed out just how rare this accomplishment would be. If Cyborg pulls it off, she’ll stamp her name in the record books, plain and simple.
Let’s talk about her opponent. Cardona’s been in the ring a lot – 68 pro fights, to be exact – but her record isn’t exactly stellar. She’s 27-34-7, has been knocked out 15 times, and has only managed two wins in her last 14 outings. So, yeah, Cyborg’s the clear favourite here, and people are already raising eyebrows about the level of competition she’s been facing in boxing.
Still, history’s on the line in Curitiba, Brazil. All eyes are on Cyborg to see if she can pull off something no one else has done before.