Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both win to set up potential Japanese super fight

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue outpointed Alan David Picasso on Saturday to set up a potential pound-for-pound super fight with Junto Nakatani.

Three-weight world champion Nakatani also beat Sebastian Hernandez Reyes on points on the card in Saudi Arabia after making his debut in the division.

The two victories set up a much-anticipated clash in 2026 that would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.

“Both of us had a very good win tonight,” Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) told DAZN. “We will have to wait and see. But for the Japanese fans, you can expect something very good.”

Fighting on the “Night of the Samurai” card in Riyadh, the 32-year-old Inoue won by unanimous decision against Mexican Picasso 120-108, 119-109, 117-111.

It was a dominant performance from the four-division champion dubbed the “Monster”, who is strengthening his claim to the title of the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Inoue was congratulated in the ring afterward by undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The 27-year-old Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) also enhanced his reputation after vacating his two belts at bantamweight to move from 118 lbs to 122 lbs.

He overcame another Mexican in Hernandez Reyes 115-113, 115-113 and 118-110.

Inoue also suggested a possible fight with super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez “if he can fight at super bantamweight.”

Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both win to set up potential Japanese super fight | iNFOnews.ca
Japan’s Naoya Inoue celebrates after beating Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both win to set up potential Japanese super fight | iNFOnews.ca
Japan’s Naoya Inoue, left, fights Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both win to set up potential Japanese super fight | iNFOnews.ca
Japan’s Junto Nakatani, right, fights Sebastian Hernandez Reyes of Mexico during a super-bantamweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani both win to set up potential Japanese super fight | iNFOnews.ca
Japan’s Junto Nakatani celebrates after beating Sebastian Hernandez Reyes of Mexico during a super-bantamweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.