Four-belt undisputed 122-lb champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) will defend his titles next against his #2 WBA-ranked contender Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) on Sunday, May 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
If Naoya, 32, wins, he will defend against WBA interim super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) on September 14th in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoue is taking the tougher match against Akhmadsliev in his home country of Japan and his easy defense against Cardenas in the U.S. That’s a classic Inoue move, and one of the reasons many people so intensely dislike him. He doesn’t take risks.
Cardenas: The Tune-up
The Ring broke the news of Inoue’s plans for the Cardenas and Akhamdaliev fights. It would look better for Inoue if he skipped the Cardenas fight and went straight into the Akhmadaliev fight on May 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He can defend against Cardenas in Japan.
Boxing fans are unfamiliar with Ramon Cardenas because he’s been fighting obscure opposition his entire nine-year professional career. He’s been given a high #2 ranking by the WBA, but his recent victories have come against these fighters:
– Bryan Acosta
– Jesus Ramirez Rubio
– Israel Rodriguez Picazo
– Rafael Pedraza
That’s the problem with the super bantamweight division. It’s one of those weight classes that lack talent. Anyone can rise up in that weight class by building an unbeaten record against cab drivers.
Things are much different at featherweight where there are actually good fighters, who would give Naoya a real test, and likely beat him. He hasn’t wanted to make that move, and it’s understandable why. Life is easy for Inoue at 122, feasting on Ramon Cardenas, Ye Joon Kim, TJ Doheny and Luis Nery.
Marinating Fights
People would like to see Inoue get it over with and fight Junto Nakatani now rather than slowly marinating that fight like a pot roast, building it up to get the most out of it. Naoya wouldn’t have to marinate if he moved up to 126, 130 and 135 and took on this murderer’s row of killers:
– Rafael Espinoza
– Lamont Roach
– Emanuel Navarrete
– Keyshawn Davis
– Shakur Stevenson
– Gervonta Davis
Last Updated on 03/06/2025
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