A pound-for-pound superstar, the chance of a major upset and the road to a huge fight: Three reasons to watch Inoue vs. Picasso today on DAZN

The undisputed champion faces Mexico's Alan Picasso in a blockbuster headline bout, amid a card filled with some of the most exciting Japanese talent of their generation.

Brought onto the global stage at last as they seek to see out the latest chapter of a golden period for the sport in the Far East, there's no shortage of storylines at play here.

From a modern pound-for-pound superstar to a dark-horse upset chance and the road to an explosive bout in 2026 and beyond, here are three reasons not to miss The Ring V.

Inoue and Nakatani make DAZN debuts 

DAZN is the Home of Boxing and the sport's biggest names, but there are two fighters yet to feature on the platform, pound-for-pound great Naoya Inoue and Junto Naktani. 

However, that wait comes to an end today when both men make their DAZN debuts. 

Inoue will be defending his undisputed super bantamweight debut against Alan Picasso, while Nakatani will finally make his long-awaited move to 122lbs with Sebastian Hernandez Reyes the man in the opposite corner.  

Inoue-Nakatani showdown awaits in 2026

If Inoue and Nakatani manage to beat their respective opponents, then it will finally set up a long-awaited showdown between the two in 2026. 

An Inoue-Nakatani fight is reportedly already scheduled, and it would be a contest that would bring the boxing world to a standstill. 

Both men have created a reputation for being entertaining operators; therefore, this particular one could be one for the ages. 

With this mouthwatering contest on the horizon, fight fans will have fingers crossed that Inoue and Nakatani can impress ahead of what will be a seismic sporting event. 

Picasso is ready to become a Mexican boxing legend

Many are already writing off Picasso when it comes to getting the win in Riyadh, but his demeanour in fight week is a confident one.

The Mexican has not been overwhelmed by the occasion, and at Friday's weigh-in, he stated he will "fight for his people". 

If Picasso does manage to beat one of the world's best pound-for-pound fighters, not only will it be one of the biggest upsets in boxing, but also one of the biggest wins in Mexican boxing history. 

Watch Ring V Inoue vs. Picasso on DAZN PPV

Naoya Inoue and Alan Picasso headline the Ring V fight night, exclusively on DAZN PPV this Saturday, December 27.

Purchase as a one-off PPV, or get included at no extra cost with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which includes a minimum of 12 PPV events per year, plus another 185 fight nights. Monthly and annual options available.

Sign up for Ultimate for a special offer price of £18.99 / $39.99 per month. More details here.