I’m very motivated to fight in front of an American crowd –Naoya Inoue
Nearly four years have passed since Naoya Inoue last fought in the United States.
But on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, The Monster makes his stateside return.
Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). It’ll be the biggest challenge of Cardenas’s career, but it’ll also be a shot to author an upset of the kind that once silenced Tokyo in 1990.
In the co-feature, Mexico’s Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Texas-born former title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs).
Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez
The ESPN+-streamed undercard will begin at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT and features the return of unbeaten Dominican welterweight Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs), who meets Argentina’s heavy-handed Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Also, rising Mexican American prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) will take on Spain’s Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight tilt.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.
At Friday’s press conference, this is what the fighters said:
Naoya Inoue
“The last two times I was here, it was during the pandemic, and I had to train accordingly. But this time I’m fighting at T-Mobile, and that’s going to be the biggest difference.”
“I’m very motivated to fight in front of an American crowd in a big arena like this, but because it’s during Cinco De Mayo Weekend, it feels like I’m playing an away game. So I don’t know what to expect.”
“The ideal situation is to show the American fans my boxing and win with a knockout. But more than anything, I want people to see something they haven’t been able to see yet in the U.S.”
“Cardenas is a very well-rounded fighter. And I think it’s a good platform to show my boxing skills.”
Ramon Cardenas
“I remember watching 24/7 with Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather. I remember watching them and wanting to be here. And now I’m here. Also, fighting for a world title is one thing, but fighting for the undisputed title is more than I could ever ask for. It makes me hungrier. It makes me want it more.”
“I know it’s going to be a tough fight. I know Inoue is a pound-for-pound great. But I’m ready for that. I’m ready for the toughest fight of my career. I picture this being a hard fight, but I also picture myself coming out there and doing my thing and showing the world who I am.”
“I need to finish this mission. I’ve lost an uncle on the way. I’ve lost a trainer on the way. And now I’m two days away from accomplishing the mission, and that’s my plan.”