Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) had to dig deep into his inner “Monster” to score an eighth-round TKO over Ramon Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
THIS FIGHT DELIVERED ON EVERYTHING. pic.twitter.com/vVSK1QbQh9
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 5, 2025
In the opening round, Inoue wasted no time in establishing the left jab while changing levels with it. Cardenas flashed a fast left jab of his own but missed with his counter left hooks. Towards the end of the round, Inoue landed a straight right hand that buzzed Cardenas right before the bell. In the second round, a shocking moment came when Cardenas landed a left hook that sent Inoue down. Inoue beat the count and was saved by the bell.
THIS RINGSIDE ANGLE 🫨 pic.twitter.com/yEGgjHVtti
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 5, 2025
Cardenas had a huge third round as he again hurt Inoue with the left hook. Inoue tried to come back with combinations, but there was no steam behind his punches. The fourth round was spectacular. Cardenas had Inoue buzzed, but then a quick straight right hand hurt Cardenas. Inoue began to unload big shots, and Cardenas was getting countered when he threw late-round desperation shots. Everyone in attendance was on their feet at the end of the round.
In the fifth round, Inoue continued to press forward, but Cardenas landed a late-round body shot that hurt Inoue again. As much as Inoue was worrying about Cardena’s left hook, the body shot hurt him in the round, which he didn’t see coming. In the sixth round, Inoue had Cardenas nearly out, but Cardenas would not give up. Cardenas landed huge right hooks and body shots that buzzed Inoue.
In the seventh round, Inoue had Cardenas hurt, and then Cardenas charged back and hurt Inoue. Then, out of nowhere, Inoue landed a straight right hand, which forced Cardenas to sit down for the knockdown. Cardenas survived the round. Inoue landed a straight right hand in the eighth round that rocked Cardenas back. Inoue followed it with a flurry of punches before the referee jumped in to stop the fight. Cardenas was upset that the referee stopped it, but it was too late.
Rafael Espinoza Dominates on ESPN
Rafael Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) scored a punishing seventh-round TKO over Edward Vazquez (17-3, 4 KOs) in the first fight on ESPN after the Sunday Night Baseball Game. The WBO featherweight champion Espinoza showed why he is the toughest in the division.
ONE BAD MAN 😮💨
Espinoza is a NIGHTMARE for the division. #InoueCardenas pic.twitter.com/nGMHE0kp0N
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 5, 2025
According to CompuBox, “Espinoza connected on 40% of punches and averaged 74 punches thrown per round. 37% of Espinoza’s power punch connects were body shots.”
It was a fast-paced opening round as Espinoza charged Vazquez as soon as the bell rang to begin the fight. Espinoza kept a consistent left jab and would follow it up with a good mix of right uppercuts and straight right hands down the middle. Vazquez was able to sneak in some short right hooks, but they were not enough to get Espinoza hurt.
The second round was all Espinoza as he would land a double left uppercut followed by a left hook to the body. This combination kept Vazquez with a tight defense, which didn’t allow him to land any significant punches on Espinoza throughout the round.
Espinoza turned the energy all the way up in the third round. After a straight right hand to the body hurt Vazquez, he tightened up his defense, but Espinoza’s punch selection was too much. Espinoza kept landing double uppercuts and targeting the body. In the fourth round, Espinoza was all over Vazquez as the straight right to the body once again started a sequence of offense that had Vazquez badly hurt. Somehow, Vazquez survived the round without a knockdown.
Round five was insanity as Espinoza was coming downhill with his offense and just when the referee was about to step in and stop the fight, Vasquez would land a big right hand to keep him in the fight. Things slowed down for both men as they used the sixth round to catch a breather.
In the seventh round, Espinoza kept punishing Vazquez, and after a series of consecutive uppercuts followed by flurries, the referee stopped the fight. Espinoza put on an offensive showcase perfect for the co-main slot he was filling.
Undercard Results
Rohan Polanco (16-0, 10 KOs) scores a dominant unanimous decision over Fabian Maidana (24-4, 18 KOs). All three judges were in agreement and saw this one 100-89 for Polanco, who remains undefeated.
Emiliano Vargas (14-0, 12 KOs) scored an impressive second-round TKO over Juan Leon (11-3-1, 2 KOs). The first knockdown came from a Vargas straight right hand. Leon would beat the count, but then Vargas landed a quick, short left hook that sent Leon down again. The referee quickly stopped the fight as Leon was hurt badly.
CINCO DE MAYO GOT STARTED EARLY 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/IxqhWimKsk
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 5, 2025
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