The Japanese champion Moves a Stride Closer to Landmark Japanese Clash Following Dominant Victory.
The undisputed super-bantamweight king paved the way for a highly-anticipated domestic super-fight by retaining his championship belts with a unanimous decision over Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia on fight night.
A Controlled Display Over Twelve Rounds
Universally considered as one of the planet's elite P4P boxers, Inoue was in complete control from the opening bell. He stifled the once-undefeated Picasso with a blend of pinpoint accuracy, lightning hand speed, and relentless pressure. The official judges reflected his dominance with wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.
“This performance wasn't good enough,” remarked the champion through a translator. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. I'll rest and be much better next time.”
Even while conceding significant height and reach to his foe, the champion imposed his will with sharp counterpunching and thudding combinations to the body. He wobbled Picasso in the middle rounds and consistently broke through his guard, compelling him into a largely defensive posture as the contest wore on.
Laying the Groundwork for a National Blockbuster
The win sets up a possible blockbuster clash with compatriot Junto Nakatani. Nakatani scored his own win on the undercard, earning a points victory in his debut at the super-bantamweight limit.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” said Nakatani. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”
The champion echoed the interest without making a definite announcement. “We both performed well this evening,” he noted. “Plans for next year will be made in due course. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
The Potential of a Historic Fight
Should it be made, an Inoue–Nakatani fight—widely rumored for early May at the legendary venue—would feature two unbeaten, multi-division champions in their physical primes. This constitutes a unique event in modern boxing and is viewed by many as a candidate to be the biggest fight in Japan's rich boxing history.
