Naoya Inoue dropped but recovers to KO rival and avoid one of biggest upsets in history
Naoya Inoue was nailed to the canvas, but recovered to batter Ramon Cardenas into submission. Inoue returned to the US in a huge Las Vegas clash with overwhelming underdog Cardenas. Top RankInoue was stunned in the second round, being flattened to the canvas[/caption] ‘The Monster’ needed a statement victory to cement his superstardom away from his native Japan. A win would guarantee that he would likely next face feared challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev, with a deal already reportedly closed for September. But one of boxing’s biggest ever upsets was on the cards, as he was nailed to the canvas by a crunching left hook in the second round. Inoue was able to recover, returning to his feet and working his way back into the fight, as he did against Luis Nery in May 2024. The tables turned in the seventh as the Japanese champion dropped his rival, returning the favour. View Tweet: https://t.co/e99cBugE1a And the fight was stopped in the eighth, as he battered Cardenas with relentless output. He avoided one of boxing’s biggest ever upsets against a 100/1 underdog. Cardenas will likely get another shot at the crown after his sensational performance, and he was left frustrated with the stoppage. Inoue managed to pick up his landmark 30th professional victory. And he confirmed he would next face ‘MJ’ next with a date touted for September. Top RankInoue incredibly was nailed by a huge left hook and found himself on the canvas[/caption] And if it is anything like his epic battle tonight, fans will be on for a treat. Inoue was roared on by a passionate crowd in Sin City, as he looked to continue his remarkable undefeated streak again. The frighteningly powerful puncher started in his typically dominant mood, taking centre ring and using the jab to perfection in the opener. Cardenas tried to use his own hand speed to try and match the Japanese champion in the second, and he had his nose surprisingly bloodied in the second. But in a moment that drew a huge roar from the crowd, Inoue was iced by a huge shot and was dropped, a monumental moment. He quickly rose to his feet, but the crunching left hook certainly made it’s his mark as the underdog seriously fancied his chances. Top RankInoue recovered and dropped Cardenas in the seventh[/caption] Inoue managed to recover well and landed his own best barrage in round four, as his own power started to land in a real slug-fest. Things took a turn for the worse in the sixth for Cardenas who looked to be rocked as Inoue teed off on his rival. But the incredibly brave American swung back with looping and wild shots, despite being caught several times with booming punches. Although he was dropped in the seventh in his own knockdown, as he stumbled back into the ropes after being hit with a crisp and well-timed jab as part of a dynamite combination. And the heat was too much for Cardenas, who was under huge pressure in the eighth and took an artillery of crunching blows. The referee took a close look and stepped in with Inoue celebrating after a real scare in Sin City. Top RankAnd Inoue got the job done a round later, to avoid a seismic upset[/caption] Cardenas wasn’t overly impressed with the stoppage, but will almost certainly get a seat at the top table moving forwards. Inoue will now fight two more times this year, and victory in his next fight against a tough challenger could see him move to featherweight to challenge Nick Ball in December.
Naoya Inoue was nailed to the canvas, but recovered to batter Ramon Cardenas into submission.
Inoue returned to the US in a huge Las Vegas clash with overwhelming underdog Cardenas.
‘The Monster’ needed a statement victory to cement his superstardom away from his native Japan.
A win would guarantee that he would likely next face feared challenger Murodjon Akhmadaliev, with a deal already reportedly closed for September.
But one of boxing’s biggest ever upsets was on the cards, as he was nailed to the canvas by a crunching left hook in the second round.
Inoue was able to recover, returning to his feet and working his way back into the fight, as he did against Luis Nery in May 2024.
The tables turned in the seventh as the Japanese champion dropped his rival, returning the favour.
And the fight was stopped in the eighth, as he battered Cardenas with relentless output.
He avoided one of boxing’s biggest ever upsets against a 100/1 underdog.
Cardenas will likely get another shot at the crown after his sensational performance, and he was left frustrated with the stoppage.
Inoue managed to pick up his landmark 30th professional victory.
And he confirmed he would next face ‘MJ’ next with a date touted for September.
And if it is anything like his epic battle tonight, fans will be on for a treat.
Inoue was roared on by a passionate crowd in Sin City, as he looked to continue his remarkable undefeated streak again.
The frighteningly powerful puncher started in his typically dominant mood, taking centre ring and using the jab to perfection in the opener.
Cardenas tried to use his own hand speed to try and match the Japanese champion in the second, and he had his nose surprisingly bloodied in the second.
But in a moment that drew a huge roar from the crowd, Inoue was iced by a huge shot and was dropped, a monumental moment.
He quickly rose to his feet, but the crunching left hook certainly made it’s his mark as the underdog seriously fancied his chances.
Inoue managed to recover well and landed his own best barrage in round four, as his own power started to land in a real slug-fest.
Things took a turn for the worse in the sixth for Cardenas who looked to be rocked as Inoue teed off on his rival.
But the incredibly brave American swung back with looping and wild shots, despite being caught several times with booming punches.
Although he was dropped in the seventh in his own knockdown, as he stumbled back into the ropes after being hit with a crisp and well-timed jab as part of a dynamite combination.
And the heat was too much for Cardenas, who was under huge pressure in the eighth and took an artillery of crunching blows.
The referee took a close look and stepped in with Inoue celebrating after a real scare in Sin City.
Cardenas wasn’t overly impressed with the stoppage, but will almost certainly get a seat at the top table moving forwards.
Inoue will now fight two more times this year, and victory in his next fight against a tough challenger could see him move to featherweight to challenge Nick Ball in December.
