Inoue Vs. Cardenas Announced – ‘He Is Ready To Take Over Las Vegas’
Naoya Inoue’s next fight has been announced, as he takes on Ramon Cardenas on May 4.
The fight will take place in Las Vegas, as Inoue fights in the US after his recent deal with Saudis. Inoue will defend his Undisputed Super Bantamweight Title after securing it against Marlos Tapales. The win made him a two-weight undisputed champion, having previously cleaned up at bantamweight. He also joined other boxing stars such as Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford, as two others to have done this in two different weight classes in the four-belt era.
The champion is on an impressive ten-fight KO streak, having stopped Ye Joo Kim in his last bout. Inoue was expected to take on Alan Picasso in his next fight. However, Picasso did not take the fight, as Cardenas became the beneficiary. The latter has established himself into this position, as shown by his number two ranking in the WBC. He has stopped his last two opponents and has not tasted defeat since 2017. He arrives into this fight with a victory against Bryan Acosta. Inoue is the massive favorite, knowing a win lines up a possible bout against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, who is the WBA Interim Super Bantamweight Champion.
This is a huge chance for Inoue to expand his profile. Although he is considered one of the best P4P fighters in the world, Inoue has been criticized for only boxing in Japan. However, that is understandable since he continues to sell out arenas. He is also the A-side in most negotiations, giving him the leverage to call the shots. However, if he can fight in the US and in Saudi, he will increase the chances of securing higher paydays, making him an even bigger star.
Reaction
“Naoya Inoue is among the most powerful and well-rounded fighters I’ve had the privilege of promoting, a singular boxing talent. 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,” Bob Arum
“I am thankful to the fans in America who have followed my career. Fighting at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is another career highlight, and I look forward to putting on a great show for everyone in attendance. Cardenas is a tough opponent who I respect for accepting the fight without hesitation,” Naoya Inoue
“This means the world to me. I’ve always aspired to fight for a world title, but to get a chance to fight for all the belts is a dream come true. I always knew our paths would cross. I never had any doubts. When the fight was offered, I instantly accepted. I wouldn’t say it’s a lottery ticket, but you can’t turn it down if you get a chance at the undisputed title. This is the opportunity of a lifetime,” Cardenas said
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