Mega-Card in planning: Naoya Inoue vs. David Picasso as main event of “Japan vs. Mexico” on December 27 – Nakatani & Teraji also possible!
Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 knockouts) is set to box for the first time in Saudi Arabia on December 27, 2025! And as the main fighter of a spectacular evening under the motto “Japan vs. Mexico” in the Riyadh Season. As confirmed by His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh, a duel against the unbeaten Mexican David Picasso (31-0-1, 17 knockouts) as the main event is almost certain.
Inoue, the reigning undisputed champion in the Superbantam, must first defeat MJ Akhmadaliev (14-1, 11 knockouts) in Japan on September 14. If he succeeds, nothing will stand in the way of the superfight against Picasso in Saudi Arabia. Picasso was originally scheduled to face Inoue back in May, but the fight fell through. Instead, Ramon Cardenas stepped up and even knocked Inoue down in a high-class fight, but was ultimately stopped in round eight.
The fight card on December 27 could be a real treat. Fights with Francisco Rodriguez Jr. (after his victory over Galal Yafai) against Kenshiro Teraji or Junto Nakatani against Cardenas are also conceivable – all duels with a top line-up between Japanese and Mexican world-class boxers. In the long term, the show could also be a stage for a mega-fight between Inoue and Nakatani in 2026 – a duel that is being touted as the biggest boxing match in Japanese history.
Text by Robin Josten