Naoya Inoue vs Ramon Cardenas photo by Mikey Williams Top Rank
The Monster returned to American soil for the first time in almost four years, and he did not disappoint.
Naoya Inoue defended his undisputed junior featherweight world championship with an eighth-round TKO against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday evening at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) looked to finish the night early but was floored in the second round by a counter left hook. He maintained his composure, but with renewed respect for Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs), who remained dangerous with counter lefts and right hands.
By rounds five and six, Inoue began landing counter punches cleanly, forcing Cardenas to cover up while Inoue looked for openings around his guard. Inoue was more careful this time, moving back just enough to avoid counter left hooks or blocking the occasional overhand right.
In the seventh, Cardenas had Inoue on the defensive as the Japanese star absorbed punches with his gloves. But moments later, Inoue stunned Cardenas with a right hand before consecutive rights dropped him.
Cardenas returned to his feet, but another flurry in the following round forced referee Thomas Taylor to halt the contest at :45.
Inoue said. “By watching tonight’s fight, everyone is well aware that I like to brawl. I was very surprised {at the knockdown}, but I took things calmly and put myself together.”
“In the first round, I felt I had good distance. It got loose in the second round. From then on, I made sure to not take that punch again.”
“The fans here were supportive and great. And I hope I was able to entertain them.”
Cardenas said, “I never cared about losses. It’s about the best fighting the best. I dreamed about fighting in front of thousands of people in Las Vegas. So I came to give everything.”
“I told my trainer that if I’m going out, then I’m going to go out on my shield. That’s what I did. I’m not sad. But I’m bummed out. It is what it is.”
Espinoza Overwhelms Vazquez
Mexican featherweight king Rafael Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) kicked off the Cinco de Mayo celebration by defending his WBO crown with a seventh-round stoppage against Edward Vazquez (17-3, 4 KOs).
Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) controlled the fight early with a stiff jab and swift footwork, but he could not resist fighting on the inside, going punch for punch with Vazquez in rounds three and four.
By the fifth, Vazquez was wearing down, and continuous uppercuts and punches to the body eventually forced him to retreat against the ropes. Espinoza forced the stoppage at 1:17 of the seventh with a nonstop barrage.
“I knew he was a great opponent. I knew he would come to fight. And that’s good because it allowed me to show more of my capabilities,” Espinoza said. “This is the kind of fight that people like to watch. And I like it, too. The people deserve these types of fights. And, as a Mexican fighting on this important Mexican date, I did it with all of my heart, and I will continue doing so. In order for a new Mexican idol to be born, I’ll need to fight against the best. So, I’m here. I’m the champion. And I’m here to fight against the best.”
Welterweight: Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (16-0, 10 KOs) cruised to a 10-round unanimous decision over Argentine puncher Fabian Maidana (24-4, 18 KOs). Polanco pressed forward from a shoulder roll stance, forcing Maidana to stay cautious and limiting the action. Nevertheless, Polanco punctuated the performance with a right uppercut to the solar plexus that dropped Maidana in the final round. Scores: 100-89 3x.
Junior Welterweight: Emiliano Fernando Vargas (14-0, 12 KOs) registered a highlight-reel second-round knockout against Juan Leon (11-3-1, 2 KOs). Measuring from a calm high guard, he clipped Leon with counter jabs before dropping him in the opening round with a right hand. Leon recovered, only to be floored again with a left uppercut, forcing the referee to end the contest at 1:40.
Featherweight: Japanese puncher Mikito Nakano (13-0, 12 KOs) dropped Pedro Marquez (16-2, 10 KOs) five times en route to a fourth-round stoppage. After scoring two knockdowns in the second and one in the third, Nakana closed the show by sending Marquez to the canvas twice in the fourth. Time of stoppage: 1:58.
Junior Middleweight: Art Barrera Jr. (9-0, 7 KOs) stopped Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. (6-2-1, 2 KOs) in the sixth round. Guerra pressed forward early and made Barrera work from the outside, but Barrera found his range by the fifth and landed clean power shots nearly at will, forcing the referee to step in at 1:15.
Featherweight: Raeese Aleem (22-1, 12 KOs) tallied a 10-round unanimous decision win over Rudy Garcia (13-2-1, 2 KOs). Scores: 98-92, 97-93, and 99-91.
