Inoue vs. Picasso

Naoya Inoue vs. David Picasso: Inoue wins by UD.

Junto Nakatani vs. Sebastian Hernandez: Nakatani wins by UD (115-113, 115-113, 118-110).

Taiga Imanaga vs. Eridson Garcia: Garcia wins by SD.

Reito Tsutsumi vs. Leobardo Sanchez: Tsutsumi wins by TKO in the 4th round.

The undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue meets unbeaten Mexican Alan David Picasso on December 27, topping Ring V: Night of the Samurai at Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh. Naoya Inoue is closing out his busiest year in more than a decade with a headline assignment in Saudi Arabia.

Fresh off a dominant win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Inoue now turns his attention to Alan Picasso, who comes in off a majority decision victory over Kyonosuke Kameda in July. Victory would further cement Inoue’s status as one of the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters and set the stage for a potential all-Japanese showdown with Junto Nakatani in early 2026. The unbeaten Mexican fighter had a strong 2024, winning five bouts, and will be aiming for the ultimate upset against the undisputed champion.

Watch the grand arrivals highlights here.

In the co-main event, Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) takes on unbeaten puncher Sebastian Hernandez (20-0, 18 KOs) in a matchup between two dangerous finishers with very different styles. Nakatani brings patience, timing, and a sharp southpaw arsenal, while Hernandez applies constant forward pressure and fight-ending power.

Hernandez has been competing professionally since 2020, the same year Nakatani claimed the flyweight title. What sets him apart is his raw power — 90% of his bouts have ended inside the distance, showing he intends to dominate, not just survive.

The undercard brings depth and intrigue. Rising lightweight Taiga Imanaga (9-0, 5 KOs) faces heavy-handed Eridson Garcia (22-1, 14 KOs) in what could be the biggest test of his three-year professional career. The 31-year-old Dominican, ranked 13th by the WBA and 10th by the WBO, brings experience and power against the unbeaten Japanese prospect.

Youth and pedigree appear to be working in Imanaga’s favor, which is why many fans see him as the favorite heading into this bout. While Imanaga will be stepping into the ring for the third time this year, Garcia makes his fourth outing. Additionally, Garcia’s last two wins came via knockout, whereas Imanaga’s most recent stoppage dates back to July of last year. A southpaw, Imanaga employs the traditional Japanese boxing style — disciplined offense built around a sharp jab, effective body shots, and smart movement to control distance, while still possessing enough power to finish fights.

For Naoya Inoue, the Riyadh showcase marks his third fight of 2025 and a chance to finish the year with momentum ahead of Nakatani. For Saudi Arabia, it’s another jewel in a growing boxing calendar.

Fight card:

▪️Naoya Inoue vs. David Picasso, 12 rounds, for Inoue’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO super bantamweight titles
▪️Willibaldo Garcia vs. Kenshiro Teraji, 12 rounds, for Teraji’s IBF World super flyweight title
▪️Taiga Imanaga vs. Eridson Garcia, 10 rounds, lightweight
▪️Reito Tsutsumi vs. Leobardo Sanchez, 6 rounds, super bantamweight