RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue outpointed Alan David Picasso on Saturday to set up a potential pound-for-pound super fight with Junto Nakatani.
Three-weight world champion Nakatani also beat Sebastian Hernandez Reyes on points on the card in Saudi Arabia after making his debut in the division.
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Japan's Junto Nakatani celebrates after beating Sebastian Hernandez Reyes of Mexico during a super-bantamweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Junto Nakatani, right, fights Sebastian Hernandez Reyes of Mexico during a super-bantamweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Naoya Inoue, left, fights Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Naoya Inoue celebrates after beating Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Naoya Inoue, left, punches Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
The two victories set up a much-anticipated clash in 2026 that would be the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history.
“Both of us had a very good win tonight,” Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs) told DAZN. “We will have to wait and see. But for the Japanese fans, you can expect something very good.”
Fighting on the “Night of the Samurai” card in Riyadh, the 32-year-old Inoue won by unanimous decision against Mexican Picasso 120-108, 119-109, 117-111.
It was a dominant performance from the four-division champion dubbed the “Monster”, who is strengthening his claim to the title of the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Inoue was congratulated in the ring afterward by undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The 27-year-old Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) also enhanced his reputation after vacating his two belts at bantamweight to move from 118 lbs to 122 lbs.
He overcame another Mexican in Hernandez Reyes 115-113, 115-113 and 118-110.
Inoue also suggested a possible fight with super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez “if he can fight at super bantamweight.”
Japan's Junto Nakatani celebrates after beating Sebastian Hernandez Reyes of Mexico during a super-bantamweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Junto Nakatani, right, fights Sebastian Hernandez Reyes of Mexico during a super-bantamweight bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Naoya Inoue, left, fights Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Naoya Inoue celebrates after beating Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
Japan's Naoya Inoue, left, punches Alan Picasso of Mexico during a boxing match for the unified WBC IBF WBO WBA super bantamweight world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo)
BOSTON (AP) — More than a thousand flights were canceled or delayed across the Northeast and Great Lakes regions due to snow as thousands took to U.S. roads and airports during the busy travel period between Christmas and New Year’s.
New York City received around four inches of snow Friday night into early Saturday — slightly under what some forecasts had predicted. At least 1,500 flights were canceled from Friday night, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware. But by Saturday morning, both the roads and skies were clearing.
“The storm is definitely winding down, a little bit of flurries across the Northeast this morning," said Bob Oravec, a Maryland-based forecaster at the National Weather Service.
Oravac said the storm was quick-moving from the northwest toward the Southeast U.S., with the largest snowfall in the New York City area reaching over six inches (15 centimeters) in central eastern Long Island. Further to the north in the Catskills, communities saw as much as 10 inches (25 centimeters) of snowfall.
Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport posted snow warnings on the social media platform X on Friday, cautioning that weather conditions could cause flight disruptions.
The National Weather Service warned of hazardous travel conditions from the Great Lakes through the northern mid-Atlantic and southern New England, with the potential for tree damage and power outages. Forecasters said the storm was expected to weaken by Saturday morning.
In Times Square on Saturday, workers in red jumpsuits worked to clear the sludge and powder-coated streets and sidewalks using shovels and snowblowers.
Jennifer Yokley, who was in Times Square on a holiday trip from North Carolina, said she was excited to see snow accumulating as it dusted buildings, trees and signs throughout the city.
“I think it was absolutely beautiful,” she said.
Payton Baker and Kolby Gray, who were visiting New York City from West Virginia on Saturday, said the snow was a Christmas surprise for their third anniversary trip.
“Well, it’s very cold and it was very unexpected,” Baker said, her breath visible in the winter air. “The city is working pretty well to get all the roads salted and everything, so it’s all right.”
Ahead of the storm, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for more than half of the state. Acting New Jersey Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency for all of New Jersey, “due to a severe winter storm causing dangerous weather conditions, including heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.”
“This storm will cause dangerous road conditions and impact holiday travel," Way said in a statement. "We are urging travelers to avoid travel during the storm and allow crews to tend to the roads. Drivers should plan their travel accordingly, monitor conditions and road closures, and follow all safety protocols.”
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Walker reported from New York City.
A general view of snow covered seats are seen before the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game between Clemson and Penn State at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Snow covered seats are seen before the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game between Clemson and Penn State at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Snow is seen piled up on the field before the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game between Clemson and Penn State at Yankee Stadium Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Fresh snow covers old snowmobiles on display in Lowville, N.Y.,on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)
Fresh snow covers old snowmobiles on display in Lowville, N.Y,, on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Cara Anna)
FILE - An American Airlines plane arrives at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
FILE - Flight times are displayed at O'Hare airport in Chicago, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
