NAOYA INOUE survived a second round scare to successfully defend his undisputed super-bantamweight titles with an eighth-round TKO win over Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas.
Making his first appearance on US soil since June 2021, Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) provided boxing fans with some much needed excitement after a drab weekend of match-ups around the world, but was made to work for it by dangerous underdog Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs).
After a measured opening to the bout, Inoue would land the first punch of significance toward the end of the first, with a sharp one-two combination sending the challenger on to his heels before the bell.
Undeterred, Cardenas would roar back into the contest in the second, uncorking a heavy left-hook counter to the chin of the on-rushing, overly-reckless Inoue, sending the Japanese star crashing to the canvas for only the second time in his career. Though he beat the count and safely navigated the few remaining seconds of the round, Inoue looked visibly shaken by the thudding power of the naturally bigger man.
However, much like he did in his TKO6 win over Luis Nery last May — wherein he was decked by another left-hand by the Mexican in the opening round — Inoue showed his true championship mettle and went to work. The third saw him control the distance behind his jab, and though he remained wary of the threat posed on the counter by ‘Dinamita’, he largely remained defensively responsible for the remainder of the bout.
As the rounds wore on, Cardenas continued to attempt to counter Inoue from middle distance. A risky tactic, given Inoue’s deadly speed and counter-punching capabilities, but one that made for a thrilling spectacle.
The sixth saw Inoue start to stamp his authority on the contest, rocking Cardenas’ head back with a snappy right hand counter, and finishing the round in ominous fashion.
Inoue would even the score with a knockdown in seven, courtesy of a series of straight right hands that sent Cardenas stumbling back drunkenly, with referee Thomas Taylor calling a knockdown after rightly deeming the 29-year-old was being kept up by the ropes.
A final salvo in the corner from trainer Joel Diaz in between rounds was, unfortunately, not enough to rally Cardenas, with another Inoue onslaught 45 seconds into the eighth enough for Mr Taylor to call a halt to proceedings.
Though some onlookers felt the stoppage may have been premature, it is difficult to see how Cardenas, as well as he performed, would have been able to turn the tide back in his favour. He lives to fight another day and his performance, albeit in defeat, will see his stock rise.
Inoue’s electric showing is another reminder of both his irresistible offensive weaponry, but also, of his own vulnerabilities. With a bout against fellow Japanese hitter Junto Nakatani seemingly edging closer, as well as a potential move to the featherweight division, ‘The Monster’ will no doubt wish to brush up defensively or risk coming un-stuck.
Next, however, the four-weight king moves on to a September showdown against former unified titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev. The Uzbek southpaw also carries power in the left-hand and, on tonight’s showing from Inoue, he’ll fancy his chances of landing it.
