It’s a rare sight to see Naoya “The Monster” Inoue in the United States, let alone lacking a crowd. Yet according to recent reports, ticket sales for the Japanese superstar’s upcoming May 4 bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas have been less than impressive.
Set to defend his unified super-bantamweight titles against Ramon Cardenas, Inoue will be making just his third stateside appearance. Normally, the undefeated pound-for-pound sensation commands packed stadiums in Japan, with crowds of 50,000 or more filling seats to witness his concussive power firsthand. Now, as he returns to America for the first time since 2021, it appears he’s struggling to replicate that same buzz on this side of the Pacific.
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Promoter Rick Glaser took to social media to sound the alarm, pointing to shockingly slow ticket sales and calling them “totally dead.” Meanwhile, Top Rank is reportedly concerned about the tepid fan response.
Speculation about the reasons behind the low turnout is plentiful. Some blame high ticket prices, while others note a lukewarm public reception to Inoue’s opponent, the 26-1 Cardenas. Despite Cardenas winning 14 consecutive fights, it’s a perfect time to wonder if the matchup has the star power needed to spark ticket-buying frenzy in what can be a notoriously tough Las Vegas market.
Image Credit: Naoki Fukuda