Japan’s Naoya Inoue will defend his undisputed junior featherweight world title against San Antonio native Ramon Cardenas on Sunday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Inoue has not fought in America since 2021 and has since won a pair of undisputed titles, cementing his status as a generational power-punching force.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are still available via AXS.com.
“Naoya Inoue is among the most powerful and well-rounded fighters I’ve had the privilege of promoting, a singular boxing talent,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “After many years selling out arenas and stadiums in his native Japan, ‘The Monster’ is ready to take over Las Vegas on Cinco de Mayo weekend. Ramon Cardenas is a worthy challenger who has earned this opportunity with several impressive victories.”
Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) is 24-0 with 22 knockouts in world title fights, a staggering championship run that began with his April 2014 knockout of Adrian Hernandez to win the WBC light flyweight title.
Last May, he packed over 50,000 fans into the Tokyo Dome, rising from a first-round knockdown to stop former two-division king Luis Nery in six. Inoue has since made two more defenses of the undisputed crown.
Inoue said, “I am thankful to the fans in America who have followed my career. Fighting at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is another career highlight, and I look forward to putting on a great show for everyone in attendance. Cardenas is a tough opponent who I respect for accepting the fight without hesitation.”
Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) enters his first world title assignment on a 14-fight winning streak, a run of success that began in 2017. Last month, he earned a unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta.