Inoue picks a quiet night time
Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) doesn’t must show something to anybody, but right here he’s, preventing a person whose finest win continues to be being debated in Mexico. Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) seems the half—tall featherweight body, tidy output, respectable ring IQ—however there’s been no second in his profession that means he can management Inoue’s rhythm or timing.
Inoue’s final three fights instructed us loads. He walked by means of Marlon Tapales, dealt with Luis Nery’s early chaos, after which outboxed Akhmadaliev clear. The one small cracks are age and motivation—he’s 32, preventing a person who can’t push him bodily or tactically. Picasso’s fundamental worth right here is to see if Inoue can keep disciplined when the risk degree drops.
If there’s threat, it’s the type veteran fighters come across: pacing and tedium. Fighters like Inoue, who thrive on hazard, typically drift when the stakes fall. Picasso’s jab and lengthy attain may steal early rounds if Inoue decides to coast.
What’s worse, an evening like this doesn’t construct something. It’s a paycheck and a tune-up disguised as status.
What the undercard truly tells us
Junto Nakatani vs. Sebastian Hernandez Reyes is the true battle. Nakatani’s hopping to 122 to see if he can eat pictures earlier than searching Inoue subsequent yr. Hernandez? He’s that hammer who flattens guys ready for a sluggish battle.
A loss kills the Tokyo Dome dream battle that’s already half-promised. Nakatani’s staff is aware of it. That stress can tighten a fighter’s stance, sluggish response, and mess with punch choice. Reyes doesn’t throw loads, however each punch means one thing.
Hayato Tsutsumi vs. Jazza Dickens: Japan’s shoving Tsutsumi at Dickens earlier than he turns 30 and will get left behind. Dickens is the basic roughhouse Brit—awkward, robust, loves mauling inside. Tsutsumi seems sharp on paper however hasn’t eaten sufficient professional leather-based to deal with that mess but.
Kenshiro Teraji vs. Willibaldo Garcia seems like matchmaking amnesia. Teraji misplaced his belt in July after getting drilled by proper arms he by no means adjusted to, but he’s getting a title shot up a division. Garcia’s report doesn’t scream hazard, however he’s lively and scrappy. The query: can Teraji take 115‑lb punches after blinking all night time in opposition to Sandoval? If he can’t, his flyweight class gained’t matter right here.
Taiga Imanaga vs. Armando Martinez and Reito Tsutsumi vs. Quintana Sanchez are filler for the Riyadh crowd—polished prospects on secure tracks. They’ll look sharp, financial institution rounds, and disappear from reminiscence by Sunday.
Behind the cardboard: cash and maneuver
Turki Alalshikh’s fingerprints are in all places. The “Ring V” card isn’t about benefit—it’s about preserving Riyadh related between heavyweight spectacles. DAZN will get content material, Japan will get publicity, and the fighters receives a commission.
Nonetheless, Inoue’s strolling a knife’s edge. His entire “Monster” rep rides on pretending each opponent is life-or-death. This one doesn’t. It’s threat disguised as routine—win comfortably, threat nothing huge, however keep lively sufficient for subsequent yr’s Tokyo Dome date.
What occurs if it goes fallacious
If Inoue slips, will get reduce, or seems disinterested, the aura fades. The “Monster” label doesn’t survive flat performances. It’s not the loss—it’s the picture of management. Picasso won’t beat him, however making Inoue look human would shift leverage in each future negotiation, particularly with Nakatani’s camp ready.
For Nakatani, a foul night time makes Inoue–Nakatani lifeless earlier than it begins. For Teraji, one other knockout would finish the profession whispers completely. For Riyadh, uninteresting fights finish the pretense of legitimacy in lower-weight divisions.
It’s a pointy card on paper, however these fights aren’t showcases—they’re minefields for favorites making an attempt to guard the subsequent payday.
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025Venue: Mohammed Abdo Enviornment, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaStart time: 12 p.m. KSA / 9 a.m. GMT / 4 a.m. ET / 2 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. JSTMain-event ringwalks: 4 p.m. KSA / 1 p.m. GMT / 8 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. PT
