Naoya Inoue Moves a Step Nearer to Landmark Japanese Showdown Following Dominant Victory.

The undisputed super-bantamweight king paved the way for a highly-anticipated domestic super-fight by retaining his undisputed titles with a unanimous decision over the Mexican challenger in Saudi Arabia on fight night.

A Masterful Performance from Start to Finish

Widely regarded as one of the world's top P4P boxers, "The Monster" was in total command from the opening bell. He stifled the once-undefeated challenger with a combination of devastating precision, blistering speed, and relentless pressure. The scorecards confirmed his dominance with lopsided scores of 117-111, 119-109, and 120-108.

“This performance wasn't good enough,” remarked Inoue through a translator. “I am happy with the win, but I feel exhausted. After some rest, I will return stronger.”

Even while conceding significant physical advantages to his foe, the champion quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and hurtful combinations to the body. He wobbled Picasso in the middle rounds and consistently broke through his defensive guard, forcing him into a largely defensive posture as the fight progressed.

Laying the Groundwork for a Domestic Blockbuster

The win sets up a potential blockbuster clash with fellow countryman the rising star. Nakatani scored his own win on the same card, earning a unanimous decision in his first fight at the 122-pound limit.

“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” declared Nakatani. “If I get that chance, I want to take it.”

Inoue responded in kind without making a definite announcement. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he noted. “For next year, we will decide what happens. The fans can look forward to something special.”

The Potential of a Generation-Defining Fight

Should it be made, an Inoue–Nakatani fight—widely rumored for early May at the legendary Tokyo Dome—would feature two undefeated, multi-division titleholders in their physical primes. This constitutes a rarity in modern boxing and is viewed by many as a candidate to be the most significant contest in Japan's rich boxing history.