Boxing
Alan Picasso makes shock admission after Naoya Inoue defeat at The Ring V
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Alan Picasso suggested that he expected "something tougher" from Naoya Inoue after he was outgunned in the pair's bout on Saturday.
The Mexican lost a unanimous decision at The Ring V: Night of the Samurai in Riyadh against the undisputed super-bantamweight champion.
Inoue, making the fourth defence of his crown this year, appeared in complete control throughout the contest and seldom seemed troubled.
But speaking in the aftermath of a first professional loss, Picasso suggested that he anticipated a more fiendest test despite coming up short.
"I expected something tougher from Inoue," he told The Ring afterwards. "[Something] more explosive, more powerful. It was a difficult fight.
"[It was] a very tough fight. Inoue was explosive and very quick. I felt superior in some parts of the last rounds of the fight, but it was tough.
"I don't feel defeated [after that performance]. My dream still goes on to become a world champion. I will get ready, and come back stronger."
The Mexican's pledge to return may well force him to reconsider his options at his current weight following a convincing defeat however.
Inoue is expected to mount his next title defence against fellow Japanese star Junto Nakatani, with a Tokyo Dome dance mooted for May.
Picasso raises eyebrows but wears heart on sleeve
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
Few fighters walk out of a one-sided decision like that and poke the bear by suggesting their opponent could have done better against them.
Alan Picasso appears to be one of them. The Mexican was outgunned comfortably throughout his biggest career contest with Naoya Inoue.
Yet at the same time, the former mandatory challenger may have a point. 'The Monster's supreme knockout ratio took a hit against his foe here.
That stubborn durability never really threatened Inoue, bar a few shots in the final exchanges of the later rounds - but nor did it let him down too.
Picasso ultimately came up against a generational fighter and went the distance. He wears his heart on his sleeve - and plenty will applaud him here.
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