Avila Perspective Chap 357 Samurais vs Aztecs in Saudi and More

Avila Perspective Chap 357 Samurais vs Aztecs in Saudi and More

Two of Japan’s best warriors Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani will be performing their craft in separate contests on the desert sands of Riyadh on the opening morning hours on Saturday.

The country of the rising sun indeed.

Its no accident that many of the best prizefighters in the lower weight classes hail from Japan, a country historically known for its warrior culture.

Inoue (31-0, 27 Kos) who is recognized as one of the best fighters in the world regardless of weight class, meets David Picasso (32-0-1, 17 Kos) a tall lanky fighter from Colima, Mexico at 1 a.m. (PT) on Saturday Dec, 27. DAZN will stream the Ring V event.

More than a few experts insist Inoue, otherwise known as “Monster,” is the best pound for pound fighter in the world.

The speedy and powerful Inoue has collected world titles in the light fly, super fly, bantam and now the super bantam weight divisions. Along the way for the past 13 years he’s fought in Scotland, the USA and mostly in Japan. Now he performs in Saudi Arabia.

Picasso hails from Mexico which like Japan has long been a warrior culture and also produces many of the best pugilists in the lower weights. Though taller and younger than Inoue, can he match the experience?

“I’m may not be stronger, or faster, but I am prepared for whatever he brings,” said Picasso, 25.

Inoue said that because of Picasso’s youth he feels the Mexican fighter will be more strong-willed and more confident when they meet.

“I’m very calm and confident about what I can do,” said Picasso.

Inoue said because of Picasso’s height advantage he believes it poses a weakness when they meet.

Inoue predicts a knockout win “by a body shot.”

“Picasso is taller, younger and with vigor,” said Inoue. “He comes to take everything.”

Inoue’s best wins were against Nonito Donaire, Luis Nery and Stephen Fulton. All were by knockout.

Nakatani

Also fighting on the same boxing card is Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 Kos) who is considered nearly the equal to Inoue. He will be defending the WBA bantam title against Mexico’s Sebastian Hernandez (20-0, 18 Kos) a tall bantam from Tijuana who trains in San Diego, Calif.

Nakatani, 27, trains in Los Angeles and is a southpaw knockout artist known as “Big Bang.” He is a former fly, super fly and now bantamweight world titlist. He currently has a five-fight knockout streak.

The southpaw slugger has long been on the chase for a match with Inoue and eagerly seeks a meeting in 2026 with the super bantam champ if both win their bouts. It’s a super match that would easily capture the attention of Japan and the world if made.

First, the Mexicans.

For the past two decades Japan and Mexico have been violently trading world titles in the lower weight classes.

Mexico’s Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2) defends the IBF flyweight title against Kenshiro Teraji (25-2) who was recently defeated this past July by Mexico’s Ricardo Sandoval (27-2) for the WBC flyweight title.

Sandoval lives and trains out of Rialto, California and recently dethroned Teraji by split decision. Teraji wants a world title back quick and he seeks to make Garcia beltless on Saturday.

Incidentally, another Mexican fighter who holds the WBO flyweight title is Anthony Olascuaga who recently defended the title last week by knockout win over Japan’s Taku Kuwahara. He won’t be on this boxing card.

Olascuaga, who goes by the nickname “Princesa” is trained in Los Angeles by Rudy Hernandez who also trains Nakatani. Can you imagine their sparring sessions. Two world champions who have known each other for a few years.

Nakatani’s best wins came against Andrew Moloney, Alan Acosta, and Vincent Astrolabio. He is gunning for Inoue in a fight for the right to be called Japan’s best fighter. But first Hernandez.

Fights to Watch (Pacific Time)

Sat. 1 a.m. DAZN ppv Naoya Inoue (31-0) vs David Picasso (32-0-1); Junto Nakatani (31-0) vs Sebastian Hernandez (20-0); Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2) vs Kenshiro Teraji (25-2).