Naoya Inoue to Meet Alan Picasso After Dominating Akhmadaliev
In what was a rarity, undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue was forced to go a full twelve rounds. However, the Japanese superstar did more than enough to secure a unanimous decision victory (117-111, 118-110, 118-110) over Uzbekistan’s Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev at the IG Arena in Nagoya, Japan. His next challenge will take him to the global stage of Riyadh Season, where he faces unbeaten Mexican contender Alan “Rey” Picasso on December 27 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Facing a challenger who some experts predicted would give him quite the battle, Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) was locked in and focused from the opening bell. The defending champion used his speed and body attack to set the tone during the early rounds. MJ tried his best to counter with combinations, but the elusive Japanese fighter was too fast and avoided the shots with ease.
HAVING EVERYTHING HIS WAY
From the middle rounds until the final bell, Akhmadaliev (14-2, 11 KOs) attempted to apply more pressure. He was met with more bodywork as Inoue continued to pound away at the breadbasket of his adversary. This, along with Inoue’s blazing hand speed, sapped much of the Uzbek’s strength and kept him from mounting any sustained offense. Overall, it was yet another dominant performance from The Monster.
Although Inoue didn’t deliver his trademark knockout, he showed his adaptability, composure, and discipline over twelve rounds. It’s those qualities that will serve him well as he looks ahead to Picasso. The youthful, rangy challenger brings confidence and ambition into the ring. But against Inoue, one of the elite fighters in the sport, he will be entering uncharted waters. For Inoue, the showdown is not only about defending his belts, but also about reinforcing his legacy as one of the sport’s most dominant champions.
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