Naoya Inoue Dominates David Picasso by Unanimous Decision, Retains Undisputed Crown | FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

Inside the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) delivered another statement performance, systematically breaking down Mexico’s determined challenger David Picasso (32-1-1, 17 KOs) over 12 rounds to retain all four world titles. Inoue controlled the tempo from the opening bell, mixing sharp counters with consistent body work, once again reinforcing his position among boxing’s pound-for-pound elite.

RING WALK MOMENT

The atmosphere built quickly as Picasso made the walk first, focused and composed, stepping into the biggest fight of his career.

Moments later, Naoya Inoue entered with calm intensity, carrying the quiet confidence of a champion who has made this stage his home.

EARLY FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

From the opening rounds, Inoue’s timing immediately stood out.

In Round 2, he began piecing Picasso apart, firing off sharp combinations, landing a crisp right-hand counter, and smoothly evading incoming shots with subtle head movement. It was a clear statement of control early.

Picasso showed heart in Rounds 3 and 4, firing back and engaging in exchanges, but even in those moments, Inoue consistently got the better of the action, beating him to the punch and landing the cleaner, more effective shots.

ROUND 5 ADJUSTMENTS

By Round 5, Inoue’s defense and counterpunching were in full rhythm. He dipped under incoming shots and responded with a hard counter right hand that snapped Picasso’s head back, reinforcing the growing gap between them.

BODY WORK BREAKDOWN

In Round 6, Inoue shifted his attack downstairs, digging into Picasso’s body with precision while making him miss wildly with slick head movement and sharp footwork. It was a calculated adjustment that began to slow the challenger, disrupt his rhythm, and significantly limit his output.

LATE ROUND CONTROL

As the fight entered the championship rounds, the difference in class became even more evident.

In Round 11, Inoue went back to the body while continuing to string together sharp combinations, forcing Picasso onto the back foot and into retreat. The pressure was relentless but controlled.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

Even with the fight well in hand, Inoue didn’t coast.

In Round 12, he continued throwing combinations, mixing in footwork and angles, closing the show with the same discipline and sharpness he displayed from the opening bell.

THE DECISION

When the final bell rang, the judges’ scorecards reflected total control, with Inoue winning wide on all three cards, 120-108, 119-109, and 118-110, sealing another dominant performance for the undisputed champion.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR NAOYA INOUE?

With another title defense in the books, Inoue continues to clean out the division while strengthening his number one pound-for-pound case, marking his fourth fight of 2025.

Attention now shifts to a potential all-Japanese super fight with Junto Nakatani, who fought on the same card and defeated Sebastian Hernandez by unanimous decision. 🥊