Naoya Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) looks exhausted, preparing for his low-risk adaptation fight against contender Alan Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) on December 27 at the Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh.
Picasso: Safe choice, low risk
Picasso is not a threat to beat and is ideal for Inoue to showcase his skills while picking up another big payday. Naoya won’t absorb as much punishment against the no-puncher Picasso as he has in recent outings. He’ll make Inoue look like 24k gold, even though he’s not.
Visible wear on Inoue’s face
This is the 32-year-old Inoue’s fourth fight in 2025. One can tell by his aged appearance that activity has taken a toll on him as he has been fighting so often. He makes good money, of course, but physically, ‘The Monster’ Inoue seems to have it age 5+ years since 2024. His appearance is closer to that of a 40-year-old than someone in their 20s.
Naoya puts himself in danger of burnout ahead of his big match in 2026 against Junto Nakatani. This is the one fans want to see. If Inoue is a depleted, worn-out shell of himself when he finally faces Junto next year, we could see him get knocked out.
Damage that adds up to 122
Naoya’s second-round loss to Ramon Cardenas in May 2025 was a red flag before next year’s match against Nakatani. Cramming all these fights into one year affected ‘The Monster’. While he’s still knocking them out, he takes punishment along the way. The guys Inoue fight or land big shots on him. He gets hit a lot more than he used to when he fought at 108, 112, 115 and 118.
Inoue vs. Picasso headlines the ‘Ring V: Night of the Samurai’ card on DAZN PPV. The event costs $59.99.
Fans see a mismatch, not a test
Picasso (24) has no chance to defeat Inoue or even compete. This is one reason why American fans have not shown much interest in this fight. They know a mismatch when they see one.
126 Waiting Room: Espinoza & Leo
- Rafael Espinoza – WBO featherweight champion.
- Angelo Leo – IBF
- Nick Ball – WBA – *to a much lesser extent.
- Bruce Carrington – WBC Interim
Last updated on 12/09/2025
 looks worn out, preparing for his low-risk tune-up fight against contender Alan Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) on December 27th at the){kind=link}