Philippines, 15 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Ramon Cardenas: “Undisputed Is The Ultimate Prize”

PhilBoxing.com




The San Antonio-born junior featherweight contender prepares to fight undisputed king Naoya Inoue on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas

INDIO, Calif. (April 10, 2025) — Ramon “Dinamita” Cardenas has gone from side hustles to the main stage. The San Antonio-born junior featherweight contender is preparing to fight undisputed champion and pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue on Sunday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs), winner of 14 straight fights, is riding a string of standout victories, including February’s decision over Bryan Acosta. It wasn’t too long ago, however, that he moonlighted as a rideshare and meal delivery driver. Those gigs helped pay some bills while he built his name as an emerging prospect. Now a consensus top-10 contender, Cardenas and his head trainer, Joel Diaz, were always confident a title shot would come. “The Monster” needed an opponent for his first stateside appearance in nearly four years, and Team Cardenas jumped at the chance to author an epic undisputed upset.

To prepare for Inoue, Cardenas is stationed in Indio, California, at the Diaz Brothers Training Camp. Cardenas and Diaz understand the mammoth task and embrace the underdog mindset.

This is what they had to say following a day of training:

Ramon Cardenas

“I got a call a week after my last fight, and my manager {Michael Miller} asked me, ‘Hey, do you want to fight Inoue?’ Opportunities like this don’t come around often, so I had to jump at it.”

“I’ve been mentally preparing to fight Inoue for a long time. I knew I'd eventually get a big fight if I kept winning. And here we are, a shot at the undisputed champion of the world.”

“This is Inoue’s first fight in America in four years, so I know he’s motivated to show out. I’m prepared for the very best version of Naoya Inoue.”

“I know this is the type of fight and moment that can eat people up, but the ring doesn’t change. You can put it in the middle of the ocean. You can put it in the middle of the desert. The ring is the ring. It has four corners. I see it like that and understand the magnitude of this fight. I asked for his moment, and now I have to take advantage of it.”

“I started doing Lyft, DoorDash, and Uber to make ends meet. To fight for a world title is one thing, but to fight for the undisputed championship is the ultimate prize. For me to be in this position shows my work ethic and self-belief because I knew I was going to get here."

Joel Diaz

“This kid has devastating power in both hands. He is one of the fighters in boxing who can hurt you in the first or last round because he hits so hard. He moves really well, has good defense, and will rise to the moment.”

“If Ramon catches Inoue with either the right or the left, he will hurt him. We know that Inoue can be hurt.”

“Early in his career, he fought for free. All he wanted was a soda and some tacos after the fight. He started from nothing. He’s here, he loves the sport, and we’re going to shock the world.”

Inoue-Cardenas and the Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez featherweight world title fight will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Pinoy Power! Pacquiao, Donaire, and Araneta Ready to Shine in World Title Fights
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • “PROSPECTS COLLIDE” TAKES CENTER STAGE
    , Sun, 15 Jun 2025
  • Nonito Donaire Favorite to Beat Andrés Campos for WBA Interim World Title; Both Men Make Weight Ready in Argentina!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Oklahoma Forces 2-2 Finals Series Tie, Starves Indiana for Point in 111-104 Win
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • PROSPECTS COLLIDE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Hitchins vs. Kambosos: Can George Be More Than A Faded Name?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Four Boxers Advance to Gold Medal Matches on Day Three of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NEW YORK: HITCHINS - 140 LBS., KAMBOSOS - 139.4 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Gaviola to face Narukami in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Pacquiao Steps Up Training
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Balla stops Cabalquinto in 4th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Eight-year-old Marius Constante sweeps 5-round chess fest in Cebu
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Top Lightweight Contender Edwin De Los Santos Part Ways Amicably
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Unification WBA & IBA Pro title fight Albert Batyrgaziev vs James Dickens to crown boxing show in Istanbul on 2 July
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • How the Ring's P4P Ranking Has Strayed from the Norms of Nat and Nigel
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FROM HITCHINS VS. KAMBOSOS JR
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS UNVEILS REMAINING PRELIMINARY CARD BOUTS FOR JAKE PAUL VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier: Leading Philippine Softball’s Unstoppable Rise to International Dominance
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Team USA Sends Seven Boxers to the Medal Rounds Thursday at World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem 2025
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Jerusalem, Taduran 1-2 at Minimumweight; Llover Enters Bantam in Ring's Latest Ratings
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • July 26: Rohan Polanco-Quinton Randall Welterweight Showdown Tops Xander Zayas-Jorge Garcia Undercard at The Theater at Madison Square Garden
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Weekend at the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Nonito Donaire to fight again, faces Campos on June 14
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Cabalquinto Set to Face Australian Balla on Maniatis Card
    , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Rene Camacho, Jajaira Gonzalez Capture Wins on Day One of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem 2025
    , Thu, 12 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.