Naoya Inoue successfully defended his undisputed super bantamweight championship, though he faced considerable difficulty retaining his titles in a challenging bout.
During the fight against Ramon Cardenas, who came very close to pulling off a significant upset, Inoue encountered trouble early. In the second round, Cardenas connected with a precisely timed left hook, sending “The Monster” to the canvas. This marked only the second time in Inoue`s professional career that he had been knocked down.
Inoue managed to beat the count and recover. The round concluded shortly after the action resumed, providing the champion valuable time to compose himself in his corner. Following this setback, Inoue surged back into the fight with increased intensity, effectively using his jab and targeting Cardenas`s body. Despite Cardenas`s courageous effort and resilience in prolonging the match, Inoue scored a knockdown in the seventh round. His relentless offensive barrage continued into the eighth round, compelling the referee to stop the contest.
Recognized globally as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers, Inoue`s impressive victory advanced his perfect professional record to 30 wins with no losses, including 27 victories secured by knockout or stoppage.
