- Naoya Inoue says he “absolutely can’t afford to lose” as he prepares to face David Picasso in Saudi Arabia.
- The undisputed junior featherweight champion admits retirement is becoming a visible possibility at age 32.
- Junto Nakatani looms as a likely successor; both fighters share the same card at Ring V: Night of the Samurai.
- Inoue’s father and trainer, Shingo, also hints that fewer fights may remain and urges Inoue to perform without regrets.
H2: Inoue vs Picasso — stakes and context
Naoya Inoue (31-0, 27 KOs) is set to headline the Ring V: Night of the Samurai card in Saudi Arabia against David Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs). The matchup — commonly searched as “inoue vs picasso” — comes with major stakes: Inoue remains the undisputed junior featherweight champion and a top pound-for-pound star, but at 32 he says the clock is ticking.
H3: “I absolutely can’t afford to lose”
Speaking on DAZN’s “On The Ground” series, Inoue was candid about his mindset. “I absolutely can’t afford to lose,” he said, underlining how his current status and future plans hinge on every result. He described retirement as a topic that has grown more tangible now that he’s reached his early thirties.
H3: A potential changing of the guard
The card also features fellow Japanese star Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs) in the co-main event as he moves down to 122 pounds. Nakatani is widely viewed as Inoue’s potential successor, and promoters and fans are already charting the path toward a possible Inoue vs Nakatani meeting next year — a fight both men acknowledge might define the division’s future.
H2: Trainer’s perspective — fewer fights ahead
Inoue’s father and trainer, Shingo, echoed a cautious tone. “Considering his age, I don’t think he has much time left,” Shingo said, adding that he hopes Inoue will approach his remaining contests with intensity and conviction so there are no regrets. The elder Inoue suggested the champion may have only a limited number of high-level fights left.
H3: Moving up in weight — or staying put?
Inoue has fought across four weight classes and been dominant at 122 pounds, where he is 7-0 and has defended the undisputed title multiple times. A move to featherweight (126) has been discussed for years, but Inoue says his body and timing make that step uncertain for now. He insists that as long as he can perform at the top level and feels the challenge, he will continue.
H2: What to watch
- Inoue’s performance against Picasso: will he display the same power and ringcraft that built his legacy?
- Nakatani’s 122-pound debut and how both Japanese stars fare on the same bill.
- Any signals after the fight about Inoue’s schedule for 2026 and potential retirement plans.
Short, sharp and honest, Inoue’s comments frame the upcoming inoue vs picasso bout as more than another title defense — it could be one of the last defining chapters of a modern boxing great.
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