Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed tremendous bantamweight title towards David Picasso at Ring V: Evening of the Samurai in Riyadh on December 27. Japanese four-division world champion Inoue placed on a dominant efficiency, defeating Mexico’s Picasso by unanimous choice, with scores of 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111.
With the victory, undefeated 32-year-old Inoue made his sixth profitable protection of the 122-pound crown, retained his belts, and improved to 32-0, 27 KOs. Picasso, 25, who additionally entered the ring unbeaten, dropped to 32-1-1, 17 KOs, struggling his first profession defeat in his first bid to turn into a champion.
In his post-fight interview, Naoya Inoue stated he wasn’t blissful together with his efficiency. As for his subsequent combat in 2026, he stated he would think about dealing with Junto Nakatani or Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
On Inoue vs Picasso undercard
Amongst different Inoue vs Picasso outcomes, Japanese three-division world champion Junto Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) defeated Mexico’s Sebastian Hernandez Reyes (20-1, 18 KOs) by unanimous choice. After 12 rounds, two judges scored it 115-113, whereas the third choose had 118-110. With the victory, Nakatani made his profitable tremendous bantamweight debut.
Dominican Eridson Garcia (24-1, 14 KOs) defeated Japan’s Taiga Imanaga (9-1, 5 KOs) by cut up choice at light-weight. After 10 rounds, one choose scored the combat 95-94 in favor of Imanaga, whereas the opposite two judges scored it 96-93 and 95-94 for Garcia.
Within the occasion opener, Japan’s Reito Tsutsumi (4-0, 3 KOs) dropped and stopped Leobardo Quintana Sanchez (11-2, 5 KOs) of Mexico within the fourth spherical at tremendous featherweight. Tsutsumi damage his opponent with a left hook and despatched him down on the canvas with a double proper hand.
Ukraine’s champion Oleksandr Usyk and former champion Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan have been among the many visitors on the occasion.
Naoya Inoue punches David Picasso throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomDavid Picasso punches Naoya Inoue throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomNaoya Inoue punches David Picasso throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomNaoya Inoue punches David Picasso throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomDavid Picasso punches Naoya Inoue throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomNaoya Inoue punches David Picasso throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomNaoya Inoue punches David Picasso throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomNaoya Inoue throughout his bout towards David Picasso at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomNaoya Inoue speaks following his victory over David Picasso throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomJunto Nakatani throws an uppercut throughout his bout towards Sebastian Hernandez Reyes at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomJunto Nakatani following his victory over Sebastian Hernandez Reyes throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomEridson Garcia punches Taiga Imanaga throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomEridson Garcia following his victory over Taiga Imanaga throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomReito Tsutsumi punches Leobardo Quintana Sanchez throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomReito Tsutsumi following his victory over Leobardo Quintana Sanchez throughout their bout at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/MatchroomOleksandr Usyk and Gennady Golovkin at Mohammed Abdo Enviornment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 27, 2025. Photograph by Mark Robinson/Matchroom
The scheduled world championship bout between Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs) and Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs) was canceled. Mexico’s IBF tremendous flyweight champion Garcia fell sick following the ceremonial weigh-ins and was hospitalized; consequently, his combat with Japanese two-weight champion Teraji didn’t go forward.
