Night of Samurai Press Conference Brings Together Boxing Stars from Japan and Mexico in Riyadh

The press conference for Night of the Samurai is held today, as part of Fight Week activities taking place at Boulevard City. The event drew strong media and public attendance, bringing together the stars of the highly anticipated fight night that will showcase the clash between Japan’s elite and Mexico’s top contenders.

 Opening the press conference, promoter Eddie Hearn welcomed attendees and highlighted the rapid rise of boxing in Saudi Arabia, noting that the partnership between Riyadh Season and The Ring Magazine over the past two years reflects the Kingdom’s transformation into a global boxing hub. He credited the vision of Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation Turki Alalshikh for driving this momentum and elevating the sport’s global profile.

 Hearn described Saturday’s fight card as one of the strongest ever staged in the Kingdom, adding that Night of the Samurai carries not only the spirit of Japanese warriors, but also the fierce intensity of Mexican boxing, with fighters known for turning every bout into an all-out battle.

 He further noted the exceptional competitiveness of the main and co-main events, pointing out that the four headline fighters collectively hold an unbeaten record across 105 professional bouts, a rare achievement in the sport.

 Japanese champion Naoya Inoue and Mexican contender Alan Picasso exchanged remarks. Picasso expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome in the Kingdom. He affirmed his readiness for this fight.

 In response, Naoya Inoue explained that this bout represents a crucial chapter in his super bantamweight journey and a key step toward cementing his position at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings.

 The press conference also featured Kenshiro Teraji, who stated that this fight represents an important milestone in his career and that he is fully prepared to seize the opportunity.