In a sport where legends are made and broken in the blink of an eye, Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue continues to reign supreme, leaving no doubt about his dominance in the ring. But here's where it gets controversial—despite a seemingly flawless victory, Inoue himself wasn't satisfied. Let's dive into the details of his latest triumph and the bold statements that followed.
In a masterclass display in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Japanese boxing sensation Naoya Inoue, widely hailed as one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters, effortlessly retained his undisputed super-bantamweight title against Alan David Picasso Romero. At 32, Inoue showcased his ring intelligence, lightning-fast hands, and razor-sharp combinations over 12 rounds, leaving Picasso struggling to keep up. The judges' scores—119-109, 120-108, and 117-111—were a testament to Inoue's dominance, though the fighter himself admitted, 'My performance tonight is not good enough—I should have done better.' This self-criticism from a four-division world champion and undisputed titleholder in two weight classes raises a thought-provoking question: Can even perfectionists like Inoue ever truly be satisfied?
Picasso, just 25, found himself outmatched by Inoue's speed and relentless body shots. Despite landing a few single punches in the early rounds, the taller fighter couldn't sustain momentum as Inoue shifted gears, throwing fluid combinations and pressing forward with unwavering confidence. By the fifth and sixth rounds, heavy right hands and hooks to the body had slowed Picasso, making the outcome increasingly clear. A valiant left hook in the 12th round was too little, too late, as Inoue had long since turned the bout into a showcase of his unparalleled skill.
With this win, Inoue extended his perfect record to 32 victories, including 27 knockouts, and set the stage for a potential 2026 showdown with fellow Japanese star Junto Nakatani. Speaking of Nakatani, his undercard fight against Mexico's Sebastian Hernandez Reyes was a closer contest than expected, marred by a controversial scorecard. While two judges scored it 115-113, a third inexplicably returned a 118-110 card, leaving fans and analysts scratching their heads. Is boxing's judging system in need of an overhaul?
And this is the part most people miss—Inoue's victory wasn't just about retaining a title; it was about solidifying his legacy. Following Terence Crawford's retirement, Inoue stands alongside heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk as one of boxing's leading figures. With options like moving up to featherweight to face WBA champion Nick Ball or taking on unified super-flyweight champion Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez, Inoue's future is as bright as ever. However, the bout fans—and influential Saudi Arabian boxing figure Turki Alalshikh—are most eager to see is Inoue vs. Nakatani. Will this dream match finally happen, or will other challenges take precedence?
Nakatani, who vacated his WBC and IBF bantamweight titles to move up in weight, dominated the early rounds against Hernandez with sharp uppercuts and effective body work. Yet, Hernandez refused to fade, mounting a strong comeback in the second half. Despite the controversial scorecard, Nakatani remains unbeaten, extending his record to 32 wins, 24 by stoppage. 'I changed my weight class to aim for the world champion,' Nakatani said. 'If I'm given the opportunity to fight on that stage, I'll do my best.' Is Nakatani the next big threat to Inoue's reign, or will he fall short against the unstoppable 'Monster'?
As Inoue prepares for his fourth title defense in 2025, he continues to set the standard for elite-level activity and positions himself as a strong contender for Fighter of the Year. But with his admission that his time in the sport is 'running out,' the question remains: How much more can Inoue achieve before he hangs up his gloves?
What do you think? Is Inoue truly unbeatable, or is there a fighter out there who can dethrone 'The Monster'? Let us know in the comments below!
