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Naoya Inoue ends busy boxing weekend with an exclamation point in thrilling win over Ramon Cardenas
In a busy Cinco de Mayo boxing weekend, Naoya Inoue did what Ryan Garcia and Canelo Alvarez couldn't on Sunday night — absolutely thrill in another outstanding performance.
"The Monster" overcame a shocking second-round knockdown to overwhelm a gutsy Ramon Cardenas with an eighth-round TKO at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Japanese superstar recovered from his early stint on the canvas to rally back and delivered a seventh-round knockdown of his own as he ferociously rallied to victory.
Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) defended his undisputed junior featherweight world crown, recording another professional victory and extending his knockout streak to 11 straight fights.
In his first appearance stateside since 2021, his return to Sin City almost ended abruptly in disaster when he was dropped inside two rounds by a stunning counter left hook.
Challenger Cardenas ducked under his left hand and blasted him with a staggering blow that the Zama-born favourite never saw coming for an emphatic knockdown.
The American subsequently proved the shot was no fluke as he caught the undisputed junior featherweight king with more counters in the third round to pile on the pressure.
Just when it looked like Cardenas could spring a massive upset however, Inoue began to make the necessary adjustments to swing momentum in the fourth round.
There, the four-division world champion used precise, clean punching to split the challenger's guard and work his way back into the fight with trademark tenacity and discipline.
While the fifth round was competitive between the fighters, Inoue distanced himself from Cardenas in the sixth when he unloaded all sorts of punishment on the challenger.
That trend continued in the seventh when he brushed his foe back with a right hand before generating four consecutive blows to drop him in the corner late in the frame.
Though Cardenas showed tremendous heart to survive, he would not make it past the eighth as Inoue unleashed a bevy of punches to force the referee to stop the bout in an instant classic.
"I think watching the fight tonight, everybody's very much aware that I like to brawl," the victor told ESPN afterwards, landing 49 of his power punches as he rallied back.
Inoue also conceded that he was "very surprised" Cardenas caught him with the counter left knockdown shot in the second but added "I made sure I didn't take that punch again."
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