Inoue assures victory over Picasso
MANILA, Philippines — Pound-for-pound Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue just doesn’t see himself losing to fellow unbeaten fighter David Picasso of Mexico.
The 32-year-old “Monster” (31-0, 27 knockouts) will put his three super-bantamweight titles—IBF, WBC and WBO—against Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday (Manila time) at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
But more than his three belts, Inoue underscores how this fight can affect his status as one of the world’s best fighters.
“This bout is going to be really important for my future—and how I fight it will be crucial to becoming pound-for-pound No. 1. So, I will give 100%,” he said at the final press conference at the Global Theatre in Riyadh.
Widely considered as a Top 3 pound-for-pound boxer right now, Inoue—known for his explosive arsenal that includes power, speed and technical prowess—is bent on becoming the best regardless of weight class.
And this means losing simply is not an option.
“I promise you that there is no chance that my belts are going back with him [Picasso] to Mexico,” added Inoue, who is coming off a dominant win over former champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev of Uzbekistan last September.
Now, standing in the heavy-handed Japanese star’s way is Picasso, who like his foe exuded the same level of confidence despite being a heavy underdog.
“I’ve been working and working so hard for this moment. I have run thousands of kilometers,” said Picasso, who, like Inoue, was also victorious in his last outing, when he outpointed Inoue’s countrymen Kyonosuke Kameda in July.
“I am so proud of the job I have done—and bringing those belts to Mexico would make my country so proud, so I will not let them down."
- Latest
- Trending
