Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso LIVE: Date, UK start time, undercard, and where to watch world title fight

Naoya Inoue is set to face Alan Picasso in Saudi Arabia this week.

The Japanese star will be defending his undisputed super bantamweight crown against Picasso in the main event of Ring V: Night of the Samurai.

PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images

Inoue is making his fourth appearance of the year as he gears up to meet his latest foe in Saudi Arabia.

Last time he was in action, Inoue outpointed Murodjon Akhmadaliev to retain his super bantamweight titles for the fifth time.

His next opponent, Picasso, currently boasts 32 professional wins and one draw, with his latest victory coming against Inoue’s compatriot Kyonosuke Kameda.

Picasso was first set to fight Inoue in the summer after the Mexican was named as the WBC super bantamweight mandatory challenger, but he pulled out of the fight.

Now, they are finally getting on just after Christmas.

Inoue vs Picasso: Date and where to watch

This 12-round title fight will take place on Saturday, December 27.

The venue for the bout is the 22,000-capacity Mohammed Abdo Arena in the Saudi capital of Riyadh.

The action will get up and running at 9am UK time with the main event ringwalks expected at 1pm.

Action from the night will be streamed worldwide on DAZN, alongside talkSPORT coverage.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Naoki Fukuda

Getty

DAZN offer monthly and annual subscription options for fans to watch the biggest nights across combat sports.

An Annual Super Saver subscription is a one-off payment of £119.99 for 12-month access (£14.99 if paying in monthly instalments).

A Monthly Flexible pass, which can be cancelled at any time, is also offered at £24.99 per month. More here.

Inoue vs Picasso: Undercard

Subject to change…

• MAIN EVENT: Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso – for undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO super bantamweight world titles
• Junto Nakatani vs Sebastian Hernandez
• Kenshiro Teraji vs Willibaldo Garcia Perez – for IBF super-flyweight world title
• Taiga Imanaga vs Armando Martinez Jr
• Reito Tsutsumi vs Leobardo Quintana

Inoue vs Picasso: What has been said?

Saudi boxing promoter, Turki Alalshikh, shared the promotional poster for the fight on his social media.

The caption translates to: “The Night of the Samurai is coming… Japan takes on the world. Ring V: Night of the Samurai Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso. A day when Japan’s finest boxers gather together. A spectacular event hailed as the greatest Japanese card in history

“The most powerful night of Japanese boxing, with a lineup never before assembled on the same card. And a special night celebrating over 70 years of friendship between Saudi Arabia and Japan. December 27, 2025.”