The countdown to a ‘Monster’ Fight Night is officially on as the fighters took to the ring today for an open workout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster ‘The Ring V: Night of the Samurai’ at the Mohammed Abdo Arena by Emirates NBD.

Headlined by Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue’s Undisputed Super Bantamweight defence against Alan Picasso, the event is brought to fight fans on behalf of Riyadh Season by SELA,Matchroom Boxing and The Ring Magazine – broadcast live on DAZN.

Inoue has his sights firmly set on becoming the Pound-for-Pound No.1 in the sport following the recent retirement of Terence Crawford.  

And the Japanese mega star – a four division World Champion who has dominated over two as an Undisputed king having never lost in 31 professional bouts (27 KOs) – was in a typically cool mood as he stepped inside the ropes to the fanfare of a huge media contingent watching on. 

His opponent Picasso (32-0-1, 17 KOs) had a lively, Mexican support at ringside to cheer him on as he plots to cause a major upset in the Kingdom this weekend.

Inoue also has the looming threat of fellow Japanese superstar Junto Nakatani looming over him, with the pair seemingly on collision course to meet in the future should they both come their respective fights this Saturday unscathed.

Southpaw Nakatani, who has an identical record to Inoue at 31-0 – albeit with 24 coming by way of stoppage – faces another Mexican in the form of undefeated knockout specialist, Sebastian Hernandez (20-0, 18 KOs).

Willibaldo Garcia (23-6-2, 13 KOs) puts his IBF World Super Flyweight Championship on the line when he faces the ‘Amazing Boy’ Kenshiro Teraji (25-2, 16 KOs). 

In the lightweight division, the highly touted Taiga Imanaga (9-0, 5 KOs) battles Dominican Republic fighter Eridson Garcia (22-1, 14 KOs) and, at Super Featherweight, 23-year-old prospect Reito Tsutsumi (3-0, 2 KOs) takes on Leobardo Quintana (12-1. 5 KOs).