Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue is expected to face Ramon Cardenas in his first of two planned fights. This is part of the Japanese boxing star’s upcoming schedule.
According to reports, the Inoue vs. Cardenas match is set for May 4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. If Inoue, considered the top fighter at 122lb, wins this fight, he is then scheduled to return home to Japan. There, he would defend his title against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, the long-standing WBA mandatory challenger, on September 14.
Inoue, with a record of 29 wins and no losses (26 KOs), was last seen in the ring on January 24. He defeated Ye Joon Kim by knockout to defend his four world titles. Kim was a last-minute replacement for Sam Goodman. Goodman had to withdraw two weeks prior due to a reopened cut. This injury, sustained during sparring, had initially caused the postponement of their fight which was originally planned for December 24.
Cardenas, currently ranked as the WBA’s number two contender, started his career at super bantamweight. He had a period between September 2016 and March 2017 where his weight fluctuated between 127lbs and 131lbs. The Mexican fighter has weighed as low as 117lbs but has returned to super bantamweight. He is currently on a 14-fight winning streak since his only defeat in 2017 against Danny Flores. However, facing Inoue will be a significant step up in competition for Cardenas, who has a record of 26 wins, 1 loss (14 KOs). It will also be the first time he competes in a 12-round championship fight.
Akhmadaliev, with a record of 13 wins, 1 loss (10 KOs), has experience fighting 12-round bouts since his eighth professional fight. In that fight, he became the unified 122lb champion by defeating Danny Roman. Akhmadaliev’s hopes to fight Inoue sooner were disrupted in September 2022 when Marlon Tapales won against him by split decision. Tapales then went on to face Inoue for the undisputed title in December 2023, where Inoue won by a 10th-round knockout.
The Uzbekistani southpaw was in line to challenge the winner of the Inoue-Tapales fight. His chances increased when he was named the WBA mandatory challenger. However, Inoue’s team successfully requested an exception, which was frustrating for Akhmadaliev.
Speaking last September, Akhamdaliev stated, “I can box, I can punch, I can fight, I can wrestle. I can do anything. I’m strong, I have many skills, and they know it. His team knows it, and they don’t want to risk it. They are afraid of losing.”
Since his loss to Tapales, Akhmadaliev has secured two consecutive wins. In his most recent fight, he showed strong form with a third-round stoppage victory over Ricardo Espinoza Franco.
