Naoya Inoue vs Alan Picasso for May 4 might be scrapped, Inoue has three choices for a replacement.

[J.C. Superstar]

Translation:

Sources: #InouePicasso tumbles hard. The outlook is difficult for the fight and Ramón Cárdenas, Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Bryan Mercado sound like possibilities for May 4 in Las Vegas. In addition, 'Divino' Espinoza could join the backup against Edward Vazquez.

BREAKING NEWS
Raymond Murata will compete in the IBF Lightweight Interim on May 10 in the USA (against Zaur Abdullaev if nothing strange happens)

On that evening the main event was going to be Rafael Espinoza vs. X (Challenger), but Espinoza will co-star with Naoya Inoue in May 4th.

[famicommander]

Just do the Akhmadaliev fight now, please.

TBRB rankings at 122
C. Naoya Inoue
1. Murodjon Akhmadliev
2. Marlon Tapales
3. Sam Goodman
4. Luis Nery
5. Ramon Cardenas
6. John Riel Casimero
7. Elijah Pierce
8. Alan Picasso
9. Shabaz Masoud
10. Toshiki Shimomachi

He already beat Tapales, Goodman pulled out of the fight three times, and he already beat Nery.

So MJ should get the fight. Cardenas would be a good backup option. Mercado would be a big disappointment, especially after the late replacement last time out.

[Elheath]

Yeah Arum, I know old people get stubborn but just put away your difference and hug with Eddie and make Inoue-MJ just happen already. It probably won't sell well and I admit that even as a huge Inoue fan, but it is the best opponent left available at this point in 122 and atleast it is good enough to shut up the haters about the idiocy of making cash cows fight outside their cash cow zone.

By the way I think Picasso saw Nakatani destroy Cueller and came to his senses.

[famicommander]

Yeah Arum, I know old people get stubborn but just put away your difference and hug with Eddie and make Inoue-MJ just happen already. It probably won't sell well and I admit that even as a huge Inoue fan, but it is the best opponent left available at this point in 122 and atleast it is good enough to shut up the haters about the idiocy of making cash cows fight outside their cash cow zone.

By the way I think Picasso saw Nakatani destroy Cueller and came to his senses.

I really don't think Picasso would sell all that much more than Akhmadaliev. I know they were hoping for a boost from the Mexican fanbase due to the holiday weekend, but Picasso is still a mostly unknown guy. Akhmadaliev isn't a huge name by any means but he is at least somewhat known; he medaled at the 2016 Olympics, he's a former unified titlist, he's fought 12 of his 14 career fights in the US, and he has been in the ring with some decent names like Danny Roman, Ronny Rios, Ryosuke Iwasa, and Marlon Tapales. Most people who know who Inoue is also know who Akhmadaliev. He won't bring in any new fans but he's not a total nobody.

[SceneBoxer]

By the way I think Picasso saw Nakatani destroy Cueller and came to his senses.

That's my guess too... tho Jun2 and Naoya are two different fighters.... both possessed destructive power....

[RigosPressureCooker]

I'd rather Inoue beat up Picasso. Motherfucker couldn't paint for shit.

[J.C. Superstar]

Update:

Not only is it staggering... the fight between Inoue and Picasso is no longer going on ❌

Sources tell me that Murodjon would be in May and Cardenas in September in Japan. We'll see

[famicommander]

Update:

Not only is it staggering... the fight between Inoue and Picasso is no longer going on ❌

Sources tell me that Murodjon would be in May and Cardenas in September in Japan. We'll see

Both of those are better fights than Inoue vs Picasso, so this is fantastic news.

[daggum]

who is bryan mercado? i honestly dont know if that person exists. hopefully he fights mj that would be great.

[IceTrayDaGang]

inoue keep fucking around and watch he loses to some lower tier fighter. this gonna be the downfall of inoue. mark my words.