Tokyo hosted today (Friday) the official press conference for the upcoming “Ring V: Night of the Samurai” event, which will take place on Saturday, December 27, at Mohammed Abdu Arena in Riyadh. The event will feature some of the biggest names in boxing from Japan and Latin America, headlined by the main showdown between Japan’s Naoya Inoue, the unified Super Bantamweight world champion, and Mexico’s Alan Picasso, the WBC’s top-ranked fighter in the same division.
The conference, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, brought together six of Japan’s top boxing stars set to compete in Riyadh: Junto Nakatani, Kenshiro Teraji, Taiga Imanaga, Hayato Tsutsumi, and Reito Tsutsumi, alongside Inoue.
At the beginning of the press conference, HE Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, said: "I have followed Japanese boxing for a long time and hold great respect for its champions. We are delighted to welcome them to Riyadh Season during the Night of the Samurai event this December. This night will be a truly special occasion, featuring a Japanese fighter in every bout against opponents from around the world. We look forward to boxing fans from Japan and across the globe watching this unique night in Riyadh on December 27".
Naoya Inoue said he is preparing for his first title defense in Saudi Arabia, expressing his determination to embody the true spirit of the Japanese samurai. He added: "Alan Picasso is a tough challenger, but I’ll give my very best performance to defend my titles. On December 27, I will deliver a shock to the world".
Junto Nakatani said that taking part in such a major event is a great honor, noting that he aims to prove his strength in the Riyadh ring and return home with victory; while Kenshiro Teraji stated that this is a new challenge in a higher weight division, and he will seize the opportunity to give everything he has to win another world title.
Taiga Imanaga said that this stage is a major opportunity to connect with the world, emphasizing that he will fight to demonstrate the strength of Japanese boxers. Hayato Tsutsumi added that the title match he has long aspired to will finally take place in Riyadh, affirming that he will enter the ring in peak condition to bring the belt back to Japan.
In conclusion, Reito Tsutsumi expressed his excitement about fighting in Riyadh alongside his brother Hayato, adding that he will give his all in pursuit of victory.
The fighters also extended their gratitude to HE Turki Alalshikh, for his dedication to organizing this world-class event that reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing stature on the global boxing and entertainment stage.
All participating fighters voiced their enthusiasm for the upcoming night in Riyadh, which will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN and exclusively in Japan on Lemino, emphasizing that the event stands as one of the year’s most significant global boxing occasions.
Inoue (31 wins, 27 by knockout, no losses) is regarded as one of Japan’s greatest boxers, having captured world titles across multiple weight divisions and solidifying his legacy as a unified world champion following his unanimous-decision victory last September over Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Picasso (32 wins, 17 by knockout, one draw, no losses), the WBC’s top-ranked Super Bantamweight contender, extended his undefeated record in July after a hard-fought majority-decision win over Japan’s Kyonosuke Kameda, proving his readiness for the biggest fight of his career.
At the end of the press conference, an official photo session was held with the participating fighters, attended by a large media presence, as photographers captured the atmosphere of excitement and anticipation ahead of the highly anticipated bout in Riyadh.