JAPANESE sensation Naoya Inoue is preparing for a difficult defence against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in two weeks’ time. However, it seems as though his fight thereafter is already lined up and will take place before the end of the calendar, assuming he comes through Akhmadaliev unscathed.
Inoue, 30-0 (27 KOs), needed just two fights to become the undisputed super-bantamweight champion during 2023 and ‘The Monster’ has since defended the coveted crown on four occasions.
Still, he is yet to face the man deemed to be his closest competitor at 122lbs in Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev, 14-1 (11 KOs), with their fight set to go ahead on Sunday, September 14, in Nagoya, Japan.
However, despite that tough test being scheduled, and a clash with countryman and fellow pound-for-pound rival Junto Nakatani being supposedly lined up for early 2026, it seems as though Inoue will fight again before 2025 comes to a close.
After being linked to one another throughout the year, ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez has revealed that Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Boxing has informed him that their fighter, Alan David Picasso Romero, 32-0-1 (17 KOs), has agreed to a deal to take on Inoue on Saturday, December 27.
Of course, any mishap against Akhmadaliev would surely see the collapse of Inoue-Picasso. Yet, an event prior to Inoue’s historic scrap with Nakatani could provide the opportunity for the Japanese duo to box on the same bill for the first time and build additional hype for their monumental meeting.
Although, with rival promoters in Hideyuki Ohashi (Inoue) and Akhiko Honda (Nakatani), an agreement would need to be reached to allow for such an event.
First, Inoue must overcome and not overlook Akhmadliev when they meet in 11 days’ time at the IG Arena, where tickets are in hot demand.
