“The Monster” Looks to Neutralize the “Dynamite”

Pound for pound ‘Monster” Naoya Inoue makes his return to America, not having fought in the states since 2021. In that time he has won a pair of undisputed titles proving he can move weight classes and keep his power. Inoue will be putting his undisputed junior featherweight title on the line against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May, 4th at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight will be presented live on ESPN+ , starting at 10 PM/ ET via Top Rank in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions and Sampson Boxing.

“Naoya Inoue is among the most powerful and well-rounded fighters I’ve had the privilege of promoting, a singular boxing talent,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “After many years selling out arenas and stadiums in his native Japan, ‘The Monster’ is ready to take over Las Vegas on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Ramon Cardenas is a worthy challenger who has earned this opportunity with several impressive victories.”

Inoue (29-0, 26KOs) really lives up to the “Monster” moniker with a record of 24-0 with 22 knockouts in world title fights. Inoue’s championship run began in April 2014 with his knockout win over Adrian Hernandez to snatch the WBC light flyweight title. During this 10 plus year championship run, Inoue has defended his WBO junior bantamweight title seven times before moving up to bantamweight to snatch the undisputed title there with a nine-fight run in this weight category since snatching the titles from Paul Butler. Inoue also ran through future Hall of Famer, Nonito Donaire not once, but TWICE, including stopping the “Filipino Flash” in just two rounds in June 2022. It only took Inoue two fights at junior featherweight to become undisputed, knocking out the previous unified champions Stephen Fulton and Marlon Taples in 2023. Last May Inoue packed out the Tokyo Dome, and although tasted canvas for the first and only time in his professional career in the first round to come back and stop former two-division champion Luis Nery in round six. Since then Inoue added two more defenses to his undisputed crown.

Cardenas (26-1, 14KOs) will be challenging for the title for the first time being on a 14-fight winning streak. Cardenas, the man known as “Dinamita” is one explosive fighter. Cardenas had a great 2024, forcing Israel Rodriguez Picazo to quit on his stool with a shattered jaw then knocked out Eduardo Ramirez in the ninth round of a highly competitive, action packed fight. Cardenas went on to hand previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta his first loss via unanimous decision. Cardenas jumped at the opportunity to fight Inoue with zero hesitation feeling he is ready and knowing their paths would have crossed sooner or later. Both these fighters will be bringing the heat, when the ferocious “monster” and the “dynamite” enter the ring May 4th it will be a show to see!

On the undercard we have Rafael Espinoza vs Edward Vazquez in a 12-round featherweight world title. Rohan Polanco will take on Fabian Maidana in a 10-round fight at welterweight. The sensational prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas, son of the great Fernando Vargas will be fighting a fighter ” to be announced. So make sure to tune in or head down to the T-Mobile Arena come fight night and don’t miss out on the action!