THE disappointment of the last 48 hours in boxing vanished faster than a Las Vegas buffet after three rounds of Naoya Inoue versus Ramon Cardenas.
Friday night’s Times Square dazzled the eyes, but the ring action in New York was a snooze-fest worthy of a lullaby. On Saturday night in Riyadh Canelo Alvarez, the grizzled maestro of the squared circle, carried the baton from Messrs. Lopez, Haney, and Garcia, and shared it with William Scull, who ran—or rather, shuffled—his way to a forgettable loss. Was Scull’s grin during his undisputed super middleweight challenge a sign of confidence or just glee at the life-changing paycheque? Fans, meanwhile, wanted to erase that performance from their memory.
While New York and Riyadh flopped on boxing’s grand stages, Japan’s hitman, undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue, reminded us why this sport reigns supreme. Facing Ramon Cardenas, a man whose left hook had a reputation but not a spotlight, Inoue stepped into Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena eager to dazzle an expectant crowd. Cardenas, however, didn’t come to play tourist. This wasn’t just a step up from his San Antonio slugfest against underdog Bryan Acosta—it was a cannonball dive into shark-infested waters.
Round two flipped the script when Cardenas’ left hook—a surprise party Inoue didn’t RSVP for—sent “The Monster” to the canvas, echoing Luis Nery’s shock knockdown in May 2024 at the Tokyo Dome. Inoue, unshaken, rose with a mean streak, his crosses and hooks eventually dismantling Nery. Cardenas, unfazed by Inoue’s aura, unleashed his left hook, a thunderbolt blow that either connected or whizzed by like a warning shot. Great champions, though, thrive in chaos. Inoue, with resilience as fierce as his punches, dove back into the fire.
As I watched round four, goosebumps prickled—either from the UK’s chilly Monday dawn or the sheer spectacle of high-stakes Vegas boxing. Cardenas landed body shots that pushed Inoue back, but “The Monster” adapted, his combinations flowing with their trademark venom. The crowd’s gasps and gawking jaws became the fight’s soundtrack, amplifying the drama. Cardenas, trapped in corners, fought out like a man refusing to fold. His stock soared with every defiant swing, transforming him from underdog to super bantamweight contender.
In the seventh, Cardenas’ tank began to sputter under Inoue’s relentless assaults. Sensing blood, Inoue floored him with body shots and crisp right hands. Cardenas, ever the gambler, rolled the dice for one last stand, but Inoue, boxing’s ruthless closer, ended it in the eighth at 0:45. A jolting right hand and a final uppercut prompted referee Thomas Taylor to wave off the contest, closing the curtain on a 72-hour boxing marathon that saved its best act for last.
Another scare for Inoue, then, but another masterclass in why he’s a multi-weight champion, two-time undisputed, and pound-for-pound elite. He’s edge-of-your-seat entertainment, proving boxing’s unmatched theatrical flair. Cardenas, meanwhile, showed what fighting for an undisputed title demands. His skill and power won’t be forgotten—Luis Nery, you’ve got mail.
Inoue had the last word in a post-fight interview, reflecting on his fight-week claim when he’s happiest in the ring: “I think watching the fight tonight everybody’s very much aware I like to brawl.” Boxing, still the king of sporting drama, is thrilled he does.
