ARGUABLE pound-for-pound number one, Naoya Inoue, 29-0 (26 KOs), has proven himself to be both a generational talent and an immovable champion since jumping up to the super-bantamweight division.
However, many fans across the pond have continued to argue that Inoue cannot become a fully respected global superstar unless he fights in America. Now, Inoue has answered that call and agreed to fight in the States, with an opponent and date being targeted.
‘The Monster’ has fought in the U.S. on three occasions and won each contest by knockout, halting Antonio Nieves, Jason Moloney and Michael Dasmarinas in defences of his WBO super-flyweight title and then IBF bantamweight crown.
Those defences are included amongst Inoue’s insane ongoing run of 24 consecutive world title fights, in all of which he has been victorious, but still, the Japanese phenomenon’s four-year absence from American soil has him branded as unproven by some – even as a possible ‘face of boxing’ if not as a fighter.
At super-bantamweight, the 31-year-old appears to be operating to his full potential and fighting at his optimum weight, becoming an undisputed champion in just two bouts by dismissing unified champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales in 2023.
Since then, Inoue has made three further defences of the 122-pound marbles and extended his knockout streak to 10, but 2025 is poised to be a more challenging year for the Kanagawa-born sensation.
Promoter Bob Arum has mapped out a plan for the year, which will see the four-division conqueror fight in Las Vegas in June before tackling either Junto Nakatani, Murodjon Akhmadaliev or one of the featherweight world champions at the end of the calendar.
According to The Ring, Inoue’s Vegas opponent will be Alan David Picasso, 31-0-1 (17 KOs), after the Mexican became WBC #1 in 2024, aided by the fact that he fought on five occasions.
The proposed event is touted to take place at the T-Mobile Arena on June 14th, as both men put their undefeated records on the line in the hopes of a statement win.
