Mark your calendars for May 4 because Naoya “The Monster” Inoue is making his long-awaited return to fight in the United States. After three years and a string of bouts in Japan, Inoue is headed to Las Vegas to defend his undisputed junior featherweight crowns against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas. This matchup will take place at the iconic T-Mobile Arena, and it’s sure to be a thrill ride from start to finish.
For those who might not know, Inoue is ESPN’s No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, and his last U.S. appearance was a 2021 knockout victory over Michael Dasmarinas. Inoue has also held world titles in four different weight classes, putting him among the elite in the sport. He’s made it clear he’s excited to perform in front of an American crowd again, and Cardenas, despite being a heavy underdog, is more than ready for his chance to snatch all four belts in his very first world title shot.
Watch Inoue vs. Joon Kim highlights: Watch
Cardenas has been vocal about how much this opportunity means to him, saying it’s the “chance of a lifetime.” Most experts believe he’ll have to put on the fight of his life to topple “The Monster,” who’s shown unstoppable power at both 118 and 122 pounds. Still, in boxing, anything can happen, and Cardenas insists he’s trained relentlessly to shock the world.
In the co-main event, Mexico’s Rafael Espinoza will defend his WBO featherweight title against Edward Vazquez.
Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) hails from Guadalajara, just like Canelo and he’s thrilled to fulfill his dream of fighting in Las Vegas. He believes Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs) will bring the challenge necessary to show the world he’s here to stay as champion. That’s no small task: Espinoza has made it clear he wants to leave no doubt about his status as one of boxing’s rising stars in the featherweight division.
“My dream was always to fight in Las Vegas,” Espinoza said. “Edward Vazquez is a tough fighter who wants to take what’s mine, but I’m ready to prove I’m the rightful champion.” Standing in his way, however, is a gritty Texan who’s been eyeing this opportunity for years.
Vazquez, a 29-year-old from Fort Worth, previously took on Joe Cordina for the IBF junior lightweight belt, pushing the undefeated Welsh champion to a majority decision. He’s confident he can push Espinoza just as hard. “I’ve been boxing since I was eight,” he said. “I’ve earned this shot, and I’m not leaving empty-handed.”
Fight card:
▪️Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas, 12 rounds, for the IBF World Super Bantamweight, WBC World Super Bantamweight, and WBO World Super Bantamweight titles
▪️Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez, 12 rounds, for the WBO World Featherweight title
