ODDS and EVENS | Naoya Inoue Faces Youthful Challenger in Latest Title Fight

Naoya Inoue began 2025 with a resounding victory over Korean challenger Ye Joon Kim. At Tokyo's Ariake Arena, the boxing superstar demonstrated his pugilistic superiority, winning via a fourth-round knockout on January 24.

Since then, the undisputed super bantamweight champion compiled a pair of victories on two continents, raising his career record to 31-0 with 27 knockouts. On May 4, he defeated American Ramon Cardenas via an eighth-round technical knockout in Las Vegas. Then, on September 14, he outpointed Uzbekistan's Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Nagoya. That fight went the distance, marking the first time one of Inoue's bouts lasted 12 rounds since November 2019.

The 32-year-old Inoue will wrap up his busy year with his fourth fight on Saturday night, December 27 in Riyadh. Mexican challenger Alan Picasso, who is 25, owns a career record of 32-0-1 (17 KOs).

Picasso is seven years younger than "Monster" Inoue. The 173-cm challenger has a two-centimeter height advantage. He also has a seven-centimeter reach advantage (178 cm to Inoue's 171 cm).

Can these factors give Picasso the edge against Inoue?

"I can see that Inoue is strong and very fast," Picasso told The Ring through an interpreter. "However, he's a human being and can make mistakes like anyone else. I'm taller than him — everything helps a little bit — and that's an important point."

Getting Ready to Face Naoya Inoue

Picasso hasn't fought since he earned a majority decision in a 10-round bout against Kyonosuke Kameda on July 19 in Las Vegas. It's his only fight so far this year.

That said, Picasso has maintained a dedicated training schedule as he prepared for his marquee showdown with Inoue.

"There hasn't been much time in the ring for me [this year], only one fight," Picasso said, according to The Ring. "However, I have spent more time in the gym than ever before. After the last fight [with Kameda], I spent a lot of time in the gym and I'm ready."

'Determined to Show a Truly Top-Class Fight'

To wrap up the year ― his first with four fights since 2013 ― Naoya Inoue is determined to stay unbeaten. And he's confident that he'll conquer Picasso.

At a press conference on Tuesday, December 23, Inoue outlined his goals for the fight.

"I'm getting pumped up and will exceed people's expectations," he was quoted as saying by Kyodo News in Riyadh. "I've said I want a knockout, but I won't be going rough and forcible."

Instead, he added, "I'll look to display proper boxing with a beautiful storyline."

Making a recent appearance on DAZN's "On The Ground" boxing program, Inoue provided further perspective on his outlook for the fight, his 27th straight world title bout.

"I'm determined to show a truly top-class fight," said on the program, The Ring reported.

In terms of fight strategy, what is his basic plan?

"This time I'll be overwhelming, truly demonstrating my strength," Inoue said on the DAZN program. "In my last fight, I devised a strategy to secure a victory by decision as part of the plan. This time, it's really about showcasing the difference in power — [I] just want to show my strength."

He continued: "It's about carefully selecting within myself how I'll box against Picasso. I believe I'll manage to do that."

Excitement for a Proposed Future Bout

While there's plenty of excitement among Inoue's fans for his Saturday clash with Picasso, some boxing fanatics are even more eager to see him fight in 2026.

A blockbuster super bantamweight bout against countryman Junto Nakatani is planned for May at Tokyo Dome.

Speaking at the Japan Boxing Commission's awards banquet in March 2025, Inoue said it would be "the most exciting bout between Japanese in the country's boxing history."

Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) is fighting on the undercard on Saturday in Riyadh, making his debut at super bantamweight against Mexico's Sebastian Hernandez (20-0, 18 KOs). Previously, Nakatani, 27, was the WBC and IBF bantamweight titleholder.

Inoue, the former undisputed bantamweight champ, is well aware of Nakatani's accomplishments in the ring, though he insisted they don't share a bond.

"Personally, I have no contact or connection with him," Inoue said earlier this week, according to The Associated Press. "Of course, I value his boxing, that's why I'm looking forward to fighting him."

But first things first. Nakatani vs Hernandez and Inoue vs Picasso are on the docket. It's a high-profile night for Japanese fighters on the global stage.

If either or both Japanese boxers lose on Saturday, the Tokyo Dome plan could be scrapped or delayed.

Naoya Inoue, however, declared he'll be victorious in Saudi Arabia.

"I promise you that there is no chance that my belts are going back with him [Picasso] to Mexico," Inoue said on Christmas in Riyadh, Agence France-Presse reported.