Naoya Inoue successfully defended his status as the undisputed super bantamweight champion, though he encountered significant challenges on his path to victory.
In Sunday`s bout, Inoue put his undisputed titles on the line against Ramon Cardenas, who came remarkably close to achieving a major upset. Early in the second round, Cardenas delivered a perfectly timed left hook that sent “The Monster” to the canvas. This marked only the second time in Inoue`s professional career that he had been knocked down.
Inoue managed to beat the referee`s count and regain his footing just before the round concluded. This provided the champion with crucial time in his corner to recompose himself. Following this moment, Inoue roared back into the fight, taking control primarily through effective use of his jab and relentless body attacks. Cardenas demonstrated considerable courage, resisting Inoue`s pressure and extending the fight as long as he could. However, in the seventh round, Inoue scored a knockdown in the corner. The persistent onslaught from Inoue in the eighth round ultimately became too much, leading the referee to halt the contest.
Inoue is widely recognized as one of boxing`s elite pound-for-pound fighters. This win further solidified his impressive professional record, which now stands at 30 victories with no defeats, including 27 wins by knockout.
