Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue has created history by becoming the first man in 42 years to defend The Ring title four times in a single calendar year.
He outpointed Alan David Picasso Romero with a classy display to retain his undisputed super-bantamweight title in Saudi Arabia.
The milestone was last reached by Larry Holmes in 1983.
Widely regarded as one of boxing's leading pound-for-pound fighters, Inoue showcased his ring intelligence, fast hands, and sharp combinations over 12 dominant rounds.
25-year-old Picasso was unable to keep up with Inoue's speed and body shots in Riyadh, as the judges scored the contest 119-109, 120-108, and 117-111 in favour of the champion.
Despite the one-sided nature of the victory, Inoue, a four-division world champion and undisputed in two weight classes, said he was disappointed with his display.
He says his performance tonight is not good enough, and he should have done better.
The win extended Inoue's perfect record to 32 victories, including 27 by knockout, and sets up a potential showdown in 2026 with compatriot Junto Nakatani.
Nakatani outpointed Mexico's Sebastian Hernandez Reyes on the undercard in a close contest marred by a controversial scorecard.
In a fight where a case could be made for either boxer, two judges scored it 115-113, with the third returning an inexplicable 118-110 card.
[Source: BBC and Boxing Basement]
