Night of the Samurai Tickets: Inoue vs Picasso Riyadh

Fight week is underway in Boulevard City for The Ring V: Night of the Samurai, a Riyadh Season headline card that puts Japan’s pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue in a title defense against Mexico’s unbeaten Alan David Picasso at Mohammed Abdo Arena. The event lands on Saturday, December 27, 2025, with global broadcast on DAZN and exclusive coverage in Japan on Lemino.

For ticket buyers, the timing and venue matter. Mohammed Abdo Arena sits inside Boulevard City’s entertainment zone, which means easy access to food, fan zones, and late-night programming before and after the fights. It also means demand is strong across central hotel clusters and ride-hail pickup areas, so plan early and build in buffer around security windows. Besides, Riyadh is set to host Royal Rumble next month.

Date, venue, and start time

The card is set for Sat, Dec 27, 2025 at Mohammed Abdo Arena, Boulevard City (Riyadh). UK coverage lists a morning start with main ring walks around 1:00 pm GMT, which is 4:00 pm KSA. In the U.S., DAZN PPV listings and schedule roundups point to a 4:00 pm ET start. As ever with fight weeks, broadcast windows and ring-walk estimates can shift, so check your region’s DAZN app the morning of the event.

How to buy The Ring V tickets?

Tickets are on sale with clear price bands. General Admission from roughly $14–27, Platinum from ~$80, and Diamond around $108 per Ring Magazine’s ticket guidance, which aligns with local press quoting SAR 50 through SAR 400 tiers.

Expect QR/mobile entry and ID match at the gates. If you want the countdown and walk-in drama, target lower-bowl corners or the first rows of upper-center for a clean sightline to the ring and screens. Watch for production-hold releases a week or two after the first map—camera and stage locks often free up better seats without overpaying.

The main event: Inoue vs Picasso

Inoue defends his undisputed super bantamweight titles against WBC mandatory Picasso, an unbeaten Mexican stylist who thrives on pace and angles. Inoue’s shot selection and range control make him the favorite, but Picasso’s rhythm and length can drag rounds long if he establishes the jab early. That tactical contrast is the selling point: compact power and composure versus volume and mobility, under Riyadh lights.

Undercard: titles, debuts, and the Japan-Mexico theme

The night carries a clear Japan-vs-Mexico flavor. Fight-week arrivals listed Reito Tsutsumi, Leobardo Sanchez, Taiga Imanaga, Eridson Garcia, Willibaldo Garcia, Kenshiro Teraji, Junto Nakatani and Sebastian Hernandez walking the Boulevard City red carpet, signaling depth across the show.

Arab News also notes an IBF super flyweight title bout featuring Willibaldo Garcia and Kenshiro Teraji, plus Junto Nakatani stepping in at super bantamweight against the unbeaten Sebastian Hernandez. Card details are subject to final bout order and late changes, so use DAZN’s fight page on the day for the running order.

Several outlets have previewed the event as a staging post toward a possible 2026 blockbuster if Inoue and Nakatani both win at 122. That forward thread is speculative, but it explains why the undercard leans into Japan’s elite roster.

Fight week in Riyadh: what’s on and where to be

The week opened with grand arrivals at the Global Theater in Boulevard City. Open workouts are scheduled mid-week for fans and media, the weigh-in traditionally lands Friday, and fight night is Saturday.

Boulevard City’s fan zones, merch points, and food courts keep queues moving, but the busiest periods are just after doors and immediately post-main. If you’re bringing kids, arrive early, travel light, and consider waiting 15–20 minutes after the final bell before calling ride-hail to let traffic thin.

Broadcast and streaming

DAZN holds global rights to the event, with Lemino carrying exclusive coverage in Japan. UK previews list a 9:00 am GMT broadcast window with ~1:00 pm GMT ring walks for the main, while U.S. listings group it under DAZN PPV at 4:00 pm ET. If those windows look far apart, remember time-zone offsets and DAZN’s regional programming blocks. Always confirm in-app for your market on fight day.

Pricing snapshot and value picks

Price tiers map to typical arena logic. GA gets you in the building with a wide view, Platinum clusters closer to the ring and camera side, and Diamond offers the premium rows. Using Ring Magazine’s USD guidance and local reports, that’s roughly GA from $14–27 (≈ SAR 50–100), Platinum from ~$80 (≈ SAR 300), and Diamond around ~$108 (≈ SAR 405).

If you prefer atmosphere over proximity, upper-center first rows often beat mid-bowl side seats. For travelers, sit near an aisle to make merch and concession runs easier during undercard resets.

What to expect in the ring

Inoue typically starts with information-gathering rounds, prodding at guard reactions and foot set. If Picasso’s counters are late, the champion will double the jab, step inside the front shoulder, and land right hands and short hooks.

Picasso needs early tempo—jabs in clusters, quick exits on angles, and a stubborn commitment to long exchanges where his height buys him resets. The punch-for-punch threat sits with Inoue, but the scorecard threat sits with Picasso if he can own the first half and force the champion to chase.

On the undercard, Nakatani brings patience and leverage punching that plays well at 122, while Hernandez brings unbeaten confidence and thudding power that can flip momentum in a single exchange.

Teraji has championship experience and timing; Willibaldo Garcia brings activity and a style that can make timing harder to find. That blend is why this card travels: it sells technique, jeopardy, and national colors without sacrificing tempo.

Travel and local logistics

Boulevard City is designed for event flow. Expect QR-only entry, bag checks with size limits, and cashless concessions. Aim to arrive 90 minutes before first bell to clear security and explore the fan areas. For prayer times, pick aisle seats where possible to move respectfully with minimal disruption.

Ride-hail staging gets busy after the main event, so set a pickup point just outside the tightest cordons or wait a few minutes for the first wave to clear.

Why this card matters for Saudi boxing

Riyadh has already hosted heavyweight blockbusters and crossover attractions, but Night of the Samurai is a different kind of statement. It places the sport’s most technically admired champion in the city’s showcase arena during Riyadh Season and frames an undercard that could seed a 2026 superfight at 122.

For the local audience, it’s a masterclass in footwork, timing, and shot selection. For travelers, it’s the easiest fight night to pair with Boulevard City’s late-night program in the same district.

FAQs

What time does the event start?
UK previews list a broadcast window from 9:00 am GMT with main ring walks around 1:00 pm GMT; U.S. listings place it on DAZN PPV at 4:00 pm ET. In KSA that’s approximately 12:00 pm KSA start and 4:00 pm KSA main ring walks. Always confirm in your DAZN app on fight day.

Where is it, and how big is the venue?
Mohammed Abdo Arena sits inside Boulevard City in Riyadh, the heart of Riyadh Season. Capacity notes vary by configuration, but the arena is built for major music and sports productions with strong sightlines and easy access to food and fan zones.

How much are tickets, and are there hospitality options?
Guidance ranges from GA ~$14–27, Platinum ~$80+, Diamond ~$108, roughly SAR 50–400 depending on section and release. Hospitality inventory varies by show; check the official ticketing page day-of.

How do I watch?
DAZN carries the card globally; Lemino is exclusive in Japan. Start times differ by region, and some territories use PPV pricing. Confirm your plan in-app on event morning.