“The opponent had no chance”, — write: sport.ua
This was Naoi’s fourth match of 2025. He took a confident step towards the Japanese megafight against Junto Nakatani, who also boxed on this card.
Picasso had no chance. Inoue showed ten times better boxing!
Naoya Inoue is the most active current absolute and generally the most active boxer among those who are considered to be the leaders of the pound-for-pound rating (the best boxers outside the weight categories). Terence Crawford was out of the ring for a year. Returned to defeat Saul Alvarez, then announced his retirement.
Oleksandr Usyk returned to the ring faster. Beat Daniel DuBois in 5 rounds and refused to box again. He even left the WBO belt vacant because he didn’t want to face Fabio Wordley.
Naoya Inoue promised to enter the ring four times and kept his word. In addition, he did not shy away from anyone. Whoever the organizations put in front of him, that’s what he went to. That’s how he beat Ye Jun Kim, Ramon Cardenas, Murojon Akhmadaliyev. And today David Picasso too.
The Mexican was not considered the main threat to the Japanese on this list. He was put in such a status except by Mexicans and fans of Picasso himself. However, Murojon Akhmadaliyev was considered the main contender for the victory. And the Japanese broke him by the decision of the judges without any chance at all.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Picasso, with his long arms, tall height and good ability to hit a lot, was still not a candidate for the number one victory. However, this is a contender and a good enough boxer to say that this is not a pass fight. But Inoue created the conditions so that it began to seem that the opponent was nothing.
Naoya did whatever he wanted in the ring. Wanted – clamped near the ropes and in the corners. I wanted to – let the opponent out of there. If necessary, I boxed. If it was necessary to give something new, then he fought with the opponent. He hit me in the head, hit me in the body. The only thing Inoue couldn’t achieve was a knockout.
The Japanese hit a lot. There were a lot of clean shots. However, David Picasso kept. He endured everything: both in the head and in the body. Both combo hits and single hits. The Mexican deserves credit here.
Picasso also reported good left laterals. They bypassed the opponent’s defense, not so much as to make him falter, but they hit often enough to consider these hits. At the same time, David’s team also paid attention to it. They said to the last that this was his chance. They motivated him before the championship rounds, saying that he should just hit that side and everything will come.
However, the conversations remained in the plane of theoretical visions of the situation. Picasso’s hits did not pose any real threat to Inoue. Naoya ate what he missed. And he didn’t let others get hit.
Summary judgment: 119–109, 120–108 and 117–111. Unanimous decision in favor of the Japanese champion.
What now?
A meeting with Junto Nakatani is ahead, if nothing gets in the way. What could get in the way? It is difficult to invent here. Unless there is an even more valuable duel.
But it’s hard to imagine such a rival right now. Inoue is not going to go any higher just yet. And from the lower divisions, the same Jesse Rodriguez will not rise yet.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine. Are there any chances in Junto? Theoretically, everyone has a chance. The question is the practicality of applying all this. Nakatani showed that he has a lot of problems.
His encounter against Sebastian Reyes turned out not to be a phenomenal debut in the new division, but something that looked like a loss. Not that Junto definitely lost. However, he did not win. A draw would be a reasonable decision.
Reyes hit a lot, caused a hematoma on the opponent’s face. And Nakatani stood in front of his opponent for so long that Inoue would have knocked him out several times during this period.
But the confrontation will still sell. First, the dominant Naoi currently has no other opponents. It’s worth changing the division to get them, and he doesn’t plan to do that. Secondly, everyone will come to see the two idols in Japan. It will be possible to fill any large arena. And even sell broadcasts to local viewers. And these are wonderful checks and simply a historical event.
A competitive battle is not always profitable. The match between Spence and Crawford was not competitive, but sold. The fight between Joshua and Paul was watched by more than 30 million people, but it was not clear at all. Nakatani vs. Inoue looks like a matchup here that could be both more competitive and raise enough money.
And if it doesn’t turn out to be competitive, you won’t do anything. So, Naoya will once again prove that he is an undisputed leader.
Getty Images/Global Images Ukraine.