TOKYO: Japan’s boxing elite gathered in Tokyo on Friday for the first official press conference ahead of Ring V: Night of the Samurai, the latest boxing event to take place as part of Riyadh Season. The bout will take place on Dec. 27 at the Mohammed Abdu Arena in the Saudi capital.
The card will be headlined by Japan’s unified super bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue, who will defend his titles against Mexico’s Alan Picasso, the WBC’s top-ranked fighter in the division.
Friday’s event, held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Tokyo, brought together six Japanese boxers set to compete in Riyadh: Inoue, Junto Nakatani, Kenshiro Teraji, Taiga Imanaga, Hayato Tsutsumi, and Reito Tsutsumi.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and president of the Saudi Boxing Federation, opened the conference with a message of respect for Japanese boxing.
“I have followed Japanese boxing for a long time and hold great respect for its champions,” he said. “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.”
Inoue, who remains unbeaten with 31 wins (27 by knockout), said he is determined to deliver a performance worthy of his reputation.
“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,” he said.
His opponent is also unbeaten (32-0-1, 17 KOs) following a hard-fought majority decision win over Japan’s Kyonosuke Kameda in July.
Nakatani said: “Taking part in such a major event is a great honor. I aim to prove my strength in the Riyadh ring and return home with victory.”
Teraji said he relished the challenge of fighting at a new weight. “This is a new challenge in a higher weight division, and I will seize the opportunity to give everything I have to win another world title.”
Imanaga described the night as a “major opportunity to connect with the world,” and said he would fight to “demonstrate the strength of Japanese boxers.”
For Hyato Tsutsumi, his title fight will be the culmination of years of hard work. “The title match I have long aspired to will finally take place in Riyadh,” he said. “I will enter the ring in peak condition to bring the belt back to Japan.”
His brother Reito echoed those sentiments, saying: “I’m excited to fight in Riyadh alongside my brother Hayato. I will give my all in pursuit of victory.”
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