Naoya Inoue is aiming for his third consecutive win in Las Vegas when he faces Ramon Cardenas on May 4th. Having finished his training camp on the West Coast, Inoue appeared focused and spoke briefly at the final press conference.
“My previous two fights in Vegas took place during the pandemic, requiring adjusted training. This time, fighting at T-Mobile Arena makes the biggest difference,” he commented to ESPN`s Crystina Poncher.
This fight at T-Mobile Arena, expected to draw his largest U.S. crowd yet, feels distinct from his prior Vegas appearances. He returns as the acknowledged `Monster`, a star appealing to a new audience, eager to demonstrate his evolution to American fans who typically don`t see him live like those at the Tokyo Dome.
“I`m highly motivated to compete before a large American crowd in an arena like this. However, fighting on Cinco de Mayo weekend feels like an away game, so I`m unsure what the atmosphere will be like.”
“Ideally, I want to display my boxing skills to the American fans and secure a knockout win. But most importantly, I want people here in the U.S. to witness live what they typically can`t see in Japan.”
The fight against Ramon Cardenas came about after potential bouts for Inoue against Sam Goodman and David Alan Picasso didn`t materialize. Cardenas explained that he received the call from his manager about facing Inoue just a week after defeating undefeated Bryan Acosta (20-0). Working with Sampson Lewkowicz, Pro Box TV, and his team, Cardenas quickly accepted the challenge.
“My manager called me while I was grocery shopping. It was a casual call, we were discussing other things, and then he suddenly asked, `Hey, would you like to fight Inoue?` I immediately replied that it`s a fight I`ve always wanted, and he confirmed, `Okay, it`s for May 4th!`”
Despite fighting for a potential world title and undisputed status, Cardenas mentioned he hasn`t peeked at Inoue`s championship belts, acknowledging they aren`t his yet.
“I know this will be a difficult fight. Inoue is among the pound-for-pound best, but I`m prepared,” Cardenas added. “I envision myself going out there, performing my best, and showing everyone what I`m capable of.”
