Naoya Inoue continued his reign atop the super bantamweight division, earning a decisive unanimous decision over Alan Picasso in Riyadh to record the sixth defense of his undisputed 122-pound championship. Inoue, now 32-0 with 27 knockouts, controlled the contest from start to finish against a determined but outmatched challenger.
The bout served as the headline attraction ahead of a highly anticipated all-Japanese showdown projected for 2026 between Inoue and Junto Nakatani, who also appeared on the card in the co-feature against WBC No. 10 contender Sebastian Hernandez.
From the opening round, Inoue dictated the pace, using a sharp and versatile jab to set up crisp combinations. Although Picasso entered with a height and reach edge as a natural featherweight, his reluctance to commit offensively often left him vulnerable in mid-range exchanges, where Inoue’s timing and precision were most effective.
Despite the lopsided nature of the result, Inoue was critical of his own showing afterward, expressing frustration at failing to secure a stoppage for the second straight fight following his dominant win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev. He also acknowledged fatigue after completing his fourth title defense of 2025 and indicated plans to take time away from the ring.
Picasso, now 32-1-1, never seriously threatened the outcome but earned respect for his resolve. He remained competitive in spirit throughout the 12 rounds, gaining valuable experience against one of the sport’s elite and emerging from the loss with his reputation largely intact.
Naoya Inoue vs. Alan Picasso full card results
- Naoya Inoue (c) def. Alan Picasso (UD 12) to retain the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and Ring super bantamweight titles
- Junto Nakatani def. Sebastian Hernandez (UD 12); Super Bantamweights
- Eridson Garcia def. Taiga Imanaga (SD 10); Lightweights
- Reito Tsutsumi def. Leobardo Quintana (TKO 4/8); Super Bantamweights
