The much-celebrated Naoya Inoue, often hailed as the pound-for-pound best in the boxing realm, is on the hunt for a new challenger for his anticipated May 4 return to the U.S. Many in the boxing community hold Inoue in high regard these days, though others might argue that Terence Crawford or Oleksandr Usyk deserve that crown. Initially, Inoue was set to face the undefeated Mexican fighter Alan Picasso in Las Vegas. However, according to a report by Salvador Rodriguez, Picasso has unexpectedly stepped away from the match.
It’s unclear exactly what Picasso’s next move will be or why he turned down this high-profile opportunity against the unified super bantamweight champion. Some whispers suggest the legendary Erik Morales might have counseled Picasso to back out, feeling the young fighter, boasting a record of 31-0-1 with 17 knockouts, wasn’t yet ready to take on a powerhouse like Inoue. Regardless, Inoue, who remains unbeaten at 29-0 with 26 knockouts, is looking for a new opponent to square off against for his American return.
Rodriguez mentions that there are now three potential contenders for the May 4 spot: Ramon Cardenas, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, and Bryan Mercado. In recent updates, it seems that “MJ,” Akhmadaliev, is the frontrunner for the opportunity. This news is quite promising for fans. While Picasso has shown potential, Akhmadaliev could arguably present a tougher challenge.
Akhmadaliev has previously claimed that Inoue has been avoiding a matchup with him for some time. If this bout goes ahead on May 4, Inoue will have the perfect stage to challenge Akhmadaliev’s assertions.
Inoue is aiming for a busy year, planning to step into the ring four times throughout 2025. In his most recent fight on January 25th, he decisively outperformed Ye Joon Kim. There’s a palpable sense of excitement among fight enthusiasts eager to see him back on American soil.
