The Japanese champion Moves a Stride Nearer to Historic Japanese Clash Following Dominant Win.
The undisputed super-bantamweight king paved the way for a highly-anticipated all-Japanese super-fight by successfully defending his undisputed titles with a clear points victory over the Mexican challenger in Saudi Arabia on fight night.
A Masterful Performance Over Twelve Rounds
Universally considered as one of the world's top P4P boxers, "The Monster" was in total command from the opening bell. He neutralized the previously unbeaten challenger with a blend of pinpoint accuracy, blistering speed, and sustained aggression. The scorecards reflected his dominance with wide scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 117-111.
“I could have done better,” stated Inoue through a translator. “I'm glad I won, but I'm really tired. After some rest, I will return stronger.”
Despite giving up considerable height and reach to his foe, the champion quickly asserted himself with crisp counters and hurtful body attacks. He wobbled Picasso midway through the bout and consistently broke through his defensive guard, forcing him into a survival mode as the contest progressed.
Setting the Stage for a National Spectacle
The win sets up a potential historic encounter with fellow countryman the rising star. He scored his own win on the undercard, earning a points victory in his debut at the super-bantamweight limit.
“I moved up to this division to win world titles,” declared the undefeated contender. “If I get that chance, I want to take it.”
Inoue echoed the interest without making a definite announcement. “Both of us had very good wins tonight,” he commented. “Plans for next year will be made in due course. But Japanese fans should expect something very good.”
The Prospect of a Generation-Defining Fight
Should it be made, an clash between the two champions bout—heavily speculated for early May at the iconic Tokyo Dome—would feature two unbeaten, multi-division champions in their peak years. This represents a unique event in modern boxing and is considered by experts as a candidate to be the biggest contest in the nation's storied pugilistic heritage.
