Naoya Inoue Vs. David Picasso – How Does It Play Out?

Naoya Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight world champion, will reportedly face David Picasso in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December provided he beats his WBA mandatory Murodjon Akhmadaliev this weekend. 

Reports also indicate that Inoue could have another fight lined up after Picasso, as three-weight world champion Junto Nakatani will move up to super bantamweight on the Inoue-Picasso card, setting the stage for a 2026 fight.

“If Inoue wins as expected, he will defend his Ring Magazine championship Dec. 27 against David Picasso. The co-main is going to be Junto Nakatani in Riyadh moving up to 122 [lbs], which puts him on a collision course for the fight we all want to see against Inoue, which could happen next summer in the Tokyo Dome [and] would be the biggest fight in Japanese history by a mile,” Mike Coppinger 

The Approach

Inoue is coming off a knockout victory over Ramon Cardenas in May, which extended his streak to 11 straight KOs. The fight with Picasso, who is the WBC’s No. 1-ranked challenger at 122 pounds, is a major step up in competition. Inoue’s strategy will be to overwhelm Picasso, as he has an 11-fight stoppage streak. As we saw in his fight against Ramon Cardenas, Inoue can be dropped, but he has the mental fortitude to recover and finish the fight in spectacular fashion.

Picasso’s path to victory lies in his defensive fundamentals. As a southpaw, he has a natural advantage against an orthodox fighter like Inoue, and he will look to use that to his advantage. His strategy will be to maintain his composure in the early rounds, using his high guard and head movement to avoid Inoue’s power shots. He will also be looking to counter-punch, a key part of his game. Picasso will look to counter Inoue’s left hook to the body with a straight left of his own, a punch that has the potential to land a knockout blow.