The Japanese champion Takes a Stride Nearer to Landmark Tokyo Clash Following Commanding Victory.

Naoya Inoue cleared the path for a long-awaited domestic mega-bout by retaining his championship belts with a clear points victory over Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

A Masterful Display Over Twelve Rounds

Widely regarded as one of the world's elite pound-for-pound boxers, "The Monster" was in complete control from the first round. He neutralized the once-undefeated Picasso with a blend of pinpoint accuracy, blistering speed, and sustained aggression. The scorecards confirmed his superiority with lopsided scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 117-111.

“I could have done better,” remarked Inoue through a translator. “I'm glad I won, but I'm really tired. After some rest, I will return stronger.”

Despite giving up significant height and reach to his foe, the champion quickly asserted himself with sharp counterpunching and thudding body attacks. He wobbled Picasso midway through the bout and repeatedly pierced his defensive guard, forcing him into a largely defensive posture as the fight progressed.

Setting the Stage for a Domestic Spectacle

The triumph sets up a potential historic encounter with compatriot Junto Nakatani. Nakatani also emerged victorious on the same card, earning a unanimous decision in his debut at the super-bantamweight division.

“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” said Nakatani. “Should the opportunity arise, I will seize it.”

The champion echoed the interest while stopping short of a definite announcement. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he commented. “For next year, we will decide what happens. The fans can look forward to something special.”

The Prospect of a Historic Battle

Should it be made, an Inoue–Nakatani bout—widely rumored for 3 May at the iconic Tokyo Dome—would pit two unbeaten, multi-weight champions in their peak years. This represents a rarity in modern boxing and is considered by experts as a candidate to be the biggest contest in the nation's storied boxing history.