DJ Blaze

Undisputed Junior Featherweight Showdown

Last night’s Top Rank/ESPN+ Main Event between Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Featherweight Champion Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 Kos) and challenger Ramon Cardenas (26-2, 14 Kos), single handedly saved the entire heavy weekend of boxing by giving us fans the excitement that was missing throughout the weekend when these two warriors graced the inside of that squared circle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

This bout was action packed from start to finish. Both combatants were very sharp and brought the “HEAT” while exchanging some serious leather with “BOMBS” coming from both sides. Inoue’s aggressive style is very crowd pleasing but can sometimes leave openings when not careful and that is exactly what transpired when he got caught late in the second round with a counter left hook and tasted the canvas for a quick standing 8 count. He brushed himself off though while the fans in attendance erupted with “HYPE” as the action was about to blow up!

From round three, the action picked up from both combatants. I was impressed by Cardenas who stood his ground and fought toe-to-toe and asserted himself quite well and made it an entertaining bout as the rounds progressed.

That being said, a highly motivated Inoue stepped his game up and his pressure as he started to walk down his opponent while administering some heavy shots loaded with combinations. The inevitable was near as Inoue’s onslaught was becoming painfully hard for Cardenas to avoid and he eventually folded in the corner to a standing 8 count in the seventh round. The crowd once again erupted to their feet as Cardenas survived the round.

By the start of round eight the unanswered onslaught came in hot and Cardenas was pinned on the ropes absorbing some serious leather which then prompted the referee to halt the bout. Some will say that the stoppage was premature but truth be told, the end was truly inevitable as the punches were coming in at a higher clip with some serious power behind them.

With this convincing win now under his belt, Naoya Inoue retained his Undisputed IBF/WBA/WBC/WBO/Ring Magazine Junior Featherweight Championship Titles and continues to reign supreme.

Well done, Champ.

Blaze