In Las Vegas, Naoya Inoue successfully defended his undisputed super-bantamweight championships by overcoming a scare in the second round and securing a TKO victory over Ramon Cardenas in the eighth.
In his first fight on American soil since June 2021, Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) delivered the excitement missing from recent bouts worldwide. However, the dangerous underdog Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs) made `The Monster` earn his win.
Following a cautious start, Inoue landed the first meaningful blow late in the opening round, a crisp one-two combination that put Cardenas on his heels just before the bell.
Cardenas responded emphatically in the second round. He unleashed a powerful counter left hook that caught an aggressive, perhaps overly eager, Inoue flush on the chin. The shot sent the Japanese champion to the canvas for only the second time in his professional career. Although he beat the count and survived the final seconds of the round, Inoue appeared noticeably stunned by the power of his naturally larger opponent.
Yet, demonstrating true championship grit, Inoue recovered just as he did against Luis Nery in May when he was also dropped by a left hand early on. In the third round, he regained control, using his jab to manage distance. While staying mindful of `Dinamita`s` dangerous counter-punching, Inoue maintained solid defensive composure for the rest of the fight.
As the fight progressed, Cardenas persistently tried to counter Inoue from mid-range. This was a risky strategy given Inoue`s lethal speed and counter-punching ability, but it resulted in an exciting back-and-forth contest.
Inoue began to assert his dominance in the sixth round. A sharp counter right hand snapped Cardenas` head back, and Inoue finished the round looking increasingly dangerous.
In the seventh round, Inoue scored his own knockdown. A series of straight right hands sent Cardenas reeling backwards erratically. Referee Thomas Taylor correctly ruled it a knockdown, as the ropes were clearly holding the 29-year-old up.
Despite a final pep talk from trainer Joel Diaz between rounds, Cardenas couldn`t recover. Just 45 seconds into the eighth round, another relentless attack from Inoue prompted Referee Taylor to stop the fight.
Although some observers felt the stoppage was early, it`s hard to envision Cardenas, despite his brave performance, being able to turn the fight around. He can fight another day, and his showing in defeat will likely enhance his reputation.
Inoue`s thrilling performance highlighted his incredible offensive power but also exposed some defensive vulnerabilities. With a potential clash against fellow Japanese knockout artist Junto Nakatani looming and a possible move to featherweight, `The Monster` will need to refine his defense to avoid future trouble.
Looking ahead, the four-division champion is set for a September showdown against former unified titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The southpaw from Uzbekistan also possesses power in his left hand, and based on Inoue`s performance tonight, he will likely feel confident about his chances of landing it.
