Ringside Revelations: Latest Boxing News

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue will make his fourth appearance of the calendar year when he defends his undisputed and Ring Magazine junior featherweight championships against Mexico’s Alan Picasso at the Mohammed Abdo Arena on Saturday.

Richard Torrez and Frank Sanchez now have until Jan. 6 to come to terms on an IBF title eliminator or the fight will go to a purse bid.

After going the 12-round distance to outpoint Murojdon Akhmadaliev in September, active undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue looks to intensify his efforts for a standout showing when facing David Picasso in the Ring V main event come December 27.

Future Hall of Famer Katie Taylor, who is running out of compelling foils, recently brought up the 154-pound titleholder.

Fabio Wardley has never claimed that he always had a dream of becoming world heavyweight champion, though the newly-minted WBO beltholder now leads The Ring's divisional rankings before Christmas after two-time world champion Tyson Fury's departure through inactivity.

's Christmas ratings have been released and there are big changes at heavyweight and on the pound-for-pound list.

Conor Benn says there are concrete plans in place to match him with Ryan Garcia on Cinco de Mayo in 2026.

“The Monster” Inoue likely awaits “Big Bang” Nakatani if the Japanese juggernauts win their matchups Saturday. A much-anticipated showdown has been slated for May.

Although the 28-year-old has called for big-time fights, it’s unlikely that Alvarez will be his next opponent. Alvarez recently had arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow.

Madrimov underwent left knee and left shoulder surgery following his unanimous decision defeat against Vergil Ortiz in February.

South Africa's Zolani Tete had lost to his compatriot Moruti Mthalane in an IBF flyweight title fight and then twice suffered short shrift on away days in junior bantamweight world title eliminators in Mexico and Argentina.

Joshua vs. Paul finished slightly behind Terence Crawford's unanimous decision win over Canelo Alvarez to become the undisputed super middleweight champion on September 13

Alan Picasso is a sizeable underdog as Naoya Inoue-Junto Nakatani has already been tentatively slated for 2026, assuming both are successful in their Ring V fights this weekend. The 27-year-old Mexican believes now is his coming out party to spoil those plans.

Naoya Inoue took offense when critics contended he had slipped because Luis Nery and Ramon Cardenas dropped him in junior featherweight title fights.

The 122-pound champion faces Alan Picasso this weekend in Saudi Arabia, and a win could set up a Japanese superfight with Junto Nakatani is May 2026.

Former IBF junior flyweight champion Felix Alvarado fell short after moving up to 112-pounds for a shot at Sunny Edwards' crown in November 2022 but three full years later, the 36-year-old tells The Ring of his excitement at another opportunity to upset the odds on away soil once more when facing vaunted puncher Masamichi Yabuki in Japan this weekend.

MANCHESTER, England — Moses Itauma has enjoyed a meteoric rise since he turned professional less than three years ago but the past few months have taught the 20-year-old plenty about the patience required of an elite heavyweight.

Dickens, the junior lightweight division's WBA champion, lost out on the chance to defend his title against Hayato Tsutsumi due to his opponent's orbital bone fracture.