🔗 Share this article The Japanese champion Takes a Stride Nearer to Historic Tokyo Clash After Commanding Win. Naoya Inoue paved the way for a long-awaited domestic super-fight by retaining his championship belts with a unanimous decision over the Mexican challenger in Saudi Arabia on fight night. A Controlled Display Over Twelve Rounds Universally considered as one of the world's elite P4P boxers, Inoue was in total command from the first round. He neutralized the once-undefeated challenger with a combination of devastating precision, lightning hand speed, and sustained aggression. The official judges confirmed his dominance with wide scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108. “I could have done better,” remarked Inoue through a translator. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. After some rest, I will return stronger.” Despite giving up considerable height and reach to his foe, Inoue quickly asserted himself with crisp counters and hurtful combinations to the body. He wobbled Picasso midway through the bout and repeatedly pierced his defensive guard, compelling him into a largely defensive posture as the contest wore on. Laying the Groundwork for a Domestic Spectacle The win arranges a potential historic encounter with compatriot the rising star. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, earning a unanimous decision 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 responded in kind while stopping short of a firm commitment. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he noted. “Plans for next year will be made in due course. The fans can look forward to something special.” The Potential of a Generation-Defining Fight Should it be made, an Inoue–Nakatani bout—heavily speculated for early May at the iconic Tokyo Dome—would pit two undefeated, multi-weight titleholders in their physical primes. This constitutes a unique event in modern boxing and is viewed by many as a contender for the most significant fight in Japan's rich pugilistic heritage.