Set to kick off on October 12, the opening events of Riyadh Season are just days away. And for boxing fans, a brand new bout has just been announced.
Say hello to 'Ring V: The Night of the Samurai'.
On Saturday December 27, Japanese boxing sensation Naoya "The Monster" Inoue, known for his explosive power, precision, and dominance across multiple weight classes with an undefeated record of 31-0, 27 KOs will fight in Saudi Arabia for the very first time. The 32-year old Japanese boxer and reigning Unified Super-Bantamweight World Champion will defend his WBC title against the unbeaten (32-0-1, 17 KOs) 25-year old, Alan "El Rey" Picasso Romero from Mexico.
The highly anticipated Championship bout, dubbed 'Ring V: The Night of the Samurai,' will take place at the Mohammed Abdo Arena as part of the sports calendar for Riyadh Season 2025. Named 'The Night of the Samurai,' the event will see a selection of Japan's most incredible boxing talents take on some international talents from Mexico, the USA and the United Kingdom.
Although the main event has captured the attention of boxing fans worldwide, the undercard promises its own thrills, showcasing a lineup of rising contenders and regional champions eager to make a statement. The undercard features, Inoue’s countryman Junto Nakatani (31-0, 24 KOs), the Unified Bantamweight champion, who will move up a weight class to Super-Bantamweight taking on Mexico’s Sebastian Hernandez Reyes (20-0, 18 KOs), a 24-year-old prospect with a fearsome knockout record.
Other fights taking place as part of the undercard for Ring V: The Night of the Samurai will see Japan's Kenshiro Teraji take on Mexico's Willibaldo Garcia, and fellow Japanese man Taiga Imanaga vs Mexico's Armando Martinez. And finally, Japanese fighter Reito Tsutsumi, who just turned professional in May 2025, will go glove-to-glove with Leobardo "El Chino" Quintana, whilst Hayato Tsutsumi will take on the UK's James "Jazza" Dickens for a high-octane fight.
How can I watch Ring V: Night of the Samurai?
First of all, make sure to mark your calendar for Saturday, December 27.
Ticket details for the event have not yet been announced.
However, those who don't manage to get their hands on tickets to attend the event in person, will able to watch the fights in real time as they will be broadcast live on DAZN worldwide and on Lemino in Japan, ensuring global fans can tune in from around the world.
Riyadh Season & Boxing
For Saudi Arabia, the event adds to its growing reputation as a global fight capital. In the last two years, Riyadh has hosted era-defining bouts involving Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, and Anthony Joshua, cementing its place on the international boxing calendar. The “Night of the Samurai” builds on that momentum, showcasing not only heavyweight drama but also lighter weight divisions where speed and technical brilliance take centre stage. It’s another sign of how Vision 2030’s cultural transformation is reshaping Saudi Arabia into a hub where world-class sport and entertainment collide.
December 27, 2025 at Mohammed Abdo Arena, Riyadh
@riyadhseason
@wbcboxing @daznboxing
