4 Fights in a Year — Is Inoue Burning Himself Out Before Nakatani?

Naoya Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) looks worn out, preparing for his low-risk tune-up fight against contender Alan Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) on December 27th at the Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh.

Picasso: Safe Pick, Low Risk

Picasso isn’t a threat to beating him and is ideal for Inoue to showcase his skills while picking up another big payday. Naoya won’t absorb as much punishment against the non-puncher Picasso as he has in recent outings. He’ll make Inoue look like 24k gold, even if he’s not.

Visible Wear on Inoue’s Face

It’s the 32-year-old Inoue’s fourth fight in 2025. One can tell from his aged appearance that activity has taken a toll on him from fighting this frequently. He’s making good money, obviously, but physically, ‘The Monster’ Inoue looks to have aged 5+ years since 2024. His appearance is closer to that of a 40-year-old than to someone in their 20s.

Naoya is putting himself at risk of burnout ahead of his big 2026 matchup against Junto Nakatani. That’s the one that fans want to see. If Inoue is a depleted, worn-out shell of himself when he finally does face Junto next year, we could see him get knocked out.

Damage Adding Up at 122

Naoya’s second-round loss to Ramon Cardenas in May 2025 was a red flag ahead of next year’s match against Nakatani. Cramming all these fights into one year has affected ‘The Monster.’ While he is still knocking them out, he’s taking punishment along the way. The guys Inoue is fighting or landing big shots on him. He’s getting hit a lot more than he used to when he fought at 108, 112, 115, and 118.

Inoue vs. Picasso is the headliner on the ‘Ring V: Night of the Samurai’ card on DAZN PPV. The event costs $59.99.

Fans See a Mismatch, Not a Test

Picasso, 24, is given no chance of defeating Inoue or even competing. That’s one reason U.S. fans haven’t shown much interest in this fight. They know a mismatch when they see one.

126 Waiting Room: Espinoza & Leo

• Rafael Espinoza – WBO featherweight champion.
• Angelo Leo – IBF
• Nick Ball – WBA – *to a much lesser extent.
• Bruce Carrington – WBC interim