| |
|
The Monster Arrives: Naoya Inoue Is Back in America!
PhilBoxing.com Thu, 24 Apr 2025

Inoue-Ramon Cardenas undisputed junior featherweight battle goes down Sunday, May 4 at T-Mobile Arena LIVE on ESPN
LOS ANGELES (April 23, 2025) — Boxing's pound-for-pound monster has arrived on U.S. soil.
Just after touching down at LAX, Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) worked out for the media in Los Angeles, 11 days away from his undisputed junior featherweight title defense against San Antonio's Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) on Sunday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This is Inoue's first stateside appearance in nearly four years, and he returns as a two-weight undisputed champion and global superstar. Inoue faced off with Cardenas and then went through the paces in the ring and on the heavy bag. He displayed flashes of the bone-crunching power that's led him to knock out his last 10 foes.
Cardenas and junior welterweight prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) also participated in the workout. Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs), the son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, will see action on the bill in an eight-rounder against Spain's Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs).
This is some of what Inoue had to say in front of the assembled media.
"It took me four years to come back {to America}, but I'd like to return sooner than later."
"There is a great turnout of media today, and I'm very pleased. I know that the expectations are there, and I want to answer those expectations."
"My father watched Barrera, Morales, and Marquez, so those are some of the Mexican fighters I'm fond of."
"Cardenas is a beautiful fighter. He's an all-around good fighter, but for me, it's easy. No matter how he comes out, I think I have the advantage."
Inoue-Cardenas and the WBO featherweight world title showdown between Mexico's reigning champion Rafael Espinoza and Texas native Edward Vazquez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Vargas-Leon and the rest of the undercard will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
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:
Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels , Wed, 01 Jul 2026HISTORIC NIGHT OF CELEBRATION FOR IRISH SPORT AWAITS AS UNDERCARD FOR KATIE TAYLOR VS PILI AT CROKE PARK iS CONFIRMED , Wed, 01 Jul 2026Paradero to fight Cuarto for PBF Silver title on July 25 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026World Boxing Council Joins the Humanitarian Aid Relief for Earthquake Victims in Venezuela By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026LESTER MARTINEZ VS. LUKA PLANTIC ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES , Wed, 01 Jul 2026KORONADAL SLUGFEST: I’m always ready – Roherstrey Jhon Yor By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 JUNE 2026: Paro UD Crocker for IBF Welter Title; Ennis Stops Zayas in 7 for WBA, WBO Welter Titles; Wins by Whittaker, Vargas and Tucker; Valenzuela KO2 De Los Santos By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Rising Featherweight Star Jaycob "The Raging Bull" Ramos Signs Exclusive Management Agreement with Boxing VIP , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Clarion to leave on July 2 for WBC Youth title By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026Gustavo Trujillo Stays Undefeated with Devastating Seventh-Round Knockout at Fist of Fury 11 , Tue, 30 Jun 2026World Boxing Council Unveils Special July 4th Commemorative Belt Honoring USA 250th Anniversary By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Jun 202612-Year-Old Filipina Memory Prodigy Georgina Santos to Represent the Philippines in Two World Memory Championships By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026World championship mega-fight between Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez postponed to October , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Filipino Jonas Magpantay wins Indonesia; pockets $15,000, gains steam heading to Vietnam By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Ex-kickboxer to debut in MMA Slugfest By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026Deaño settles to a draw By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026Abdyrakhmanov defeats Kadiev, Kudryashov knocks out Yousefi at IBA Bare Knuckle 5 in Moscow , Sun, 28 Jun 2026WBC declares German Agit Kabayel new WBC heavyweight champion after Usyk relinquishes his title By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 28 Jun 20264th Gov. RST MMA Slugfest on July 3 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026Chezka Centeno ready for world 10-ball title defense By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis: Breakout Moment in Brooklyn By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026GAB Must Look Into Exploitation of Rated Filipino Fighters in Japan By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026TITLE FIGHT ON: Zayas and "Boots" Ennis Hit the Scales for Brooklyn Super-Welterweight Showdown By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026USC's Galen Center confirmed as Martinez-Plantic, Lopez-Carrillo venue August 29, live on ProBoxTV , Sat, 27 Jun 2026July 4: Albert Bell Steps In to Challenge Abdullah Mason in All-Ohio WBO Lightweight World Title Showdown at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center LIVE on TNT and DAZN , Fri, 26 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|