Pound-for-pound boxing champion Naoya Inoue is set to face unbeaten Mexican fighter Alan Picasso in a highly anticipated match on December 27, 2025, at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This event, dubbed “Ring V: Night of the Samurai,” will showcase a series of compelling undercard fights before the main event. Inoue, who boasts a perfect record of 31-0, aims for his 28th career knockout against Picasso, whose record stands at 32-0-1, including 17 KOs.
Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight world champion, began his year with a decisive four-round stoppage of Ye Joon Kim in January. He returned to the United States in May, where he delivered an electrifying performance against Ramon Cardenas, overcoming a knockdown to claim victory in the eighth round. His most recent bout in September saw him dominate Murodjon Akhmadaliev over 12 rounds, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in the sport.
Undercard Highlights
The undercard features several notable matchups, including:
Junto Nakatani vs. Sebastian Hernandez in the super bantamweight division. Nakatani, a three-weight world champion with a record of 31-0, has vacated his WBC, IBF, and Ring Magazine bantamweight titles to step up in weight. Hernandez, undefeated at 20-0, presents a significant challenge after going ten rounds with former world title challenger Azat Hovhannisyan in his last fight.
Willibaldo Garcia will defend his IBF super flyweight title against Kenshiro Teraji. Teraji, with a record of 25-2, seeks to become a three-weight world champion. He faced a tough year in 2025, losing a split decision to Ricardo Sandoval after a dramatic last-round victory over Seigo Yuri Akui to retain his WBC crown.
Taiga Imanaga will take on Eridson Garcia in the lightweight division. Imanaga, undefeated at 9-0, looks to maintain his momentum after two wins in 2025. Garcia, with a record of 22-1, is on a five-fight winning streak, demonstrating experience and knockout power.
The card also includes Reito Tsutsumi facing Leobardo Quintana in another super bantamweight bout. Tsutsumi, a former amateur standout, comes into this fight with a record of 3-0 against Quintana, who has a record of 12-1. This will mark Quintana’s first fight outside of Mexico.
Viewing Information
Fans can watch the main event and undercard fights live on DAZN, with the event scheduled to start at 4 a.m. ET (1 a.m. PT, 9 a.m. GMT, 7 p.m. AEDT, 12 p.m. KSA, 6 p.m. JST). The main event is expected to begin around 7:55 p.m. ET (4:55 p.m. PT, 12:55 p.m. GMT, 10:55 p.m. AEDT, 3:55 p.m. KSA, 9:55 p.m. JST).
The pay-per-view price for the event is $59.99 in the US, £24.99 in the UK, and $49.99 in Australia. Viewers in Canada can expect a price of $69.99. Alternatively, fans may subscribe to the DAZN Ultimate package, which includes access to numerous pay-per-view events each year.
The “Ring V: Night of the Samurai” promises to deliver a night of thrilling boxing action, showcasing some of the best talent in the sport today. With Inoue leading the charge, fans can expect an evening filled with excitement and high stakes.
