Naoya Inoue made a sixth successful defense of his undisputed super bantamweight title with a landslide points win over a game but overmatched Alan Picasso in Riyadh.
The success was a fourth win of 2025 for pound-for-pound superstar Inoue, who was awarded verdicts of 119-109, 120-108 and 117-111 by the ringside judges.
This calendar year record saw Inoue match the record of four Ring Magazine title defences in a single year, set by the great Larry Holmes. It also keeps him on course for a 2026 superfight with compatriot Junto Nakatani, who eked out a far closer win over Sebastian Hernandez on his debut at 122 pounds in the chief support.
Nakatani seems to be the primary option, but the contrast in a man fully attuned to a weight class that once seemed beyond him and another venturing into uncharted waters was there to see at the Mohammed Abdo Arena.
Inoue started quickly, establishing his wonderfully varied jab and getting off spiteful combinations.
The size and reach advantage was with Picasso, a natural featherweight, but his wariness of committing to attacks often left him exposed in mid-range for Inoue to run through his repertoire.
The champion expressed disappointment with his performance afterwards and perhaps going the distance for a second successive fight after a similarly one-sided win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev has wounded the pride of a vaunted knockout artist.
Picasso still felt that famous power on several occasions, most notably as he was battered to the mid-section. That body assault left the Mexican too drained to launch a final assault, with Inoue operating on a different plane.
Facing Nakatani or tackling a featherweight champion in 2026 are both attainable goals to further burnish the greatness of one of the finest fighters we have seen this century.
Naoya Inoue vs. Alan Picasso results 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
