Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani took decisive steps toward a blockbuster all-Japanese boxing clash in 2026 after both emerged victorious on the same card in Riyadh on Saturday.
Undisputed junior featherweight champion Inoue maintained his perfect record, outboxing Mexico’s David Picasso over 12 rounds to win by unanimous decision at the Mohammed Abdo Arena. Judges scored the bout 119-109, 120-108 and 117-111, reflecting Inoue’s clear control despite the absence of a knockout.
Earlier in the night, Nakatani also stayed unbeaten but was pushed to the limit in his debut at junior featherweight. The three-weight world champion edged a grueling unanimous decision over Sebastian Hernandez in a fiercely contested non-title bout, with scorecards reading 115-113, 115-113 and 118-110.
Together, the wins set the stage for what is widely being billed as the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, with two undefeated pound-for-pound stars potentially colliding for Inoue’s 122-pound world titles.
Inoue, 32, showcased his trademark speed and precision, consistently beating Picasso to the punch and targeting the body throughout the fight. Though he has shown moments of vulnerability in recent outings, including recovering from knockdowns in past bouts, his technical superiority was evident over all 12 rounds.
“It wasn’t my best performance,” Inoue admitted afterward. “I know I can do better, and I’ll learn from this. I’m happy with the wins this year, but I’m very tired and need some rest.”
Picasso showed resilience and fitness, absorbing sustained body attacks and surviving the distance against one of boxing’s elite operators, but he was unable to match Inoue’s ring intelligence and output.
Nakatani, meanwhile, endured the toughest test of his career. The 27-year-old was drawn into a high-intensity battle with Hernandez, whose relentless pressure and volume punching made the fight razor-close. Nakatani finished with a badly swollen right eye, underscoring the physical toll of the contest.
“It was a great learning experience,” Nakatani said. “I moved up in weight to challenge myself, and my goal is to fight the world champion. If that opportunity comes, I’ll be ready.”
Inoue welcomed the prospect of the matchup, hinting at the significance it would hold back home. “For Japanese fans, you can expect something very special,” he said.
The night also saw disappointment elsewhere on the card after IBF junior bantamweight champion Willibaldo Garcia withdrew from his title defense against Kenshiro Teraji due to illness, leaving Teraji without an opponent.
With both Inoue and Nakatani unbeaten and operating at the peak of their powers, momentum is now firmly behind a 2026 megafight that could define a generation of Japanese boxing.
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