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Press Conference Notes: Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas & Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez Top Monster World Championship Doubleheader Sunday in Las Vegas PhilBoxing.com Sat, 03 May 2025  Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT Press Conference Notes: Naoya Inoue-Ramon Cardenas & Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez Top Monster World Championship Doubleheader Sunday in Las Vegas Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT CLICK HERE for Photos (Mandatory Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank) CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO (Courtesy: Top Rank) LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2025) — Nearly four years have passed since Naoya Inoue last fought in the United States. But on Sunday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, The Monster makes his stateside return. Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs). It’ll be the biggest challenge of Cardenas’s career, but it'll also be a shot to author an upset of the kind that once silenced Tokyo in 1990. In the co-feature, Mexico's Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Texas-born former title challenger Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs). Inoue-Cardenas and Espinoza-Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The ESPN+-streamed undercard will begin at 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT and features the return of unbeaten Dominican welterweight Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs), who meets Argentina’s heavy-handed Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Also, rising Mexican American prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) will take on Spain’s Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight tilt. Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com. At Friday's press conference, this is what the fighters said: Naoya Inoue "The last two times I was here, it was during the pandemic, and I had to train accordingly. But this time I'm fighting at T-Mobile, and that's going to be the biggest difference." "I'm very motivated to fight in front of an American crowd in a big arena like this, but because it's during Cinco De Mayo Weekend, it feels like I'm playing an away game. So I don't know what to expect." "The ideal situation is to show the American fans my boxing and win with a knockout. But more than anything, I want people to see something they haven't been able to see yet in the U.S." "Cardenas is a very well-rounded fighter. And I think it's a good platform to show my boxing skills." Ramon Cardenas “I remember watching 24/7 with Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather. I remember watching them and wanting to be here. And now I’m here. Also, fighting for a world title is one thing, but fighting for the undisputed title is more than I could ever ask for. It makes me hungrier. It makes me want it more.” “I know it’s going to be a tough fight. I know Inoue is a pound-for-pound great. But I’m ready for that. I’m ready for the toughest fight of my career. I picture this being a hard fight, but I also picture myself coming out there and doing my thing and showing the world who I am.” “I need to finish this mission. I’ve lost an uncle on the way. I’ve lost a trainer on the way. And now I’m two days away from accomplishing the mission, and that’s my plan.” Rafael Espinoza “This is another opportunity in my career. I think I have shown in each fight that I want to get better each time. This is not the exception. It was one of the best camps I’ve ever had. I feel great physically and mentally, so you can expect the best from me.” “In my first fight with Ramirez, I knew that nobody knew what I was capable of. And I still haven’t showed what I’m capable, in terms of both my boxing skills and my heart. I have shown a bit, but I still have a lot to show. He’s a great fighter, so it’s a great opportunity to keep showing what I’m made of.” “This is a great opportunity. I always wanted to fight on these dates, and I’ve always wanted to fight here. And now I’m doing that. So that gives me the motivation to wake up every day and give it a 1000% because I am accomplishing my dreams.” Edward Vazquez “It’s going to take violence to win. Total all-out violence. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to hurt him and take that belt back home with me to Texas.” “For sparring, we’ve had a few guys come in who are 126 and 130 pounds. But for the most part, we used guys who are at 147 and 154, which is what I’m expecting to be at on fight night, so it works out.” “I was one of the top amateurs at 145 pounds. I was always the smaller guy, but I always fought guys who were 6’1” or 6’2”. I traveled across the country fighting guys like that. If you know me, I’ll get in the ring with anybody.” Rohan Polanco “It’s a Mexican date, so I want to tell Fabian Maidana to make sure he’s coming to fight. Let’s give a great fight to the people.” “I always come to deliver a great show, as you have all seen in my last fights. This will not be the exception. I’m coming to fight. I’m coming to obtain the victory. And I’m coming to represent my country.” Emiliano Fernando Vargas "Fight by fight, we'll get there. This Sunday is going to be a Super Bowl event. I know we usually fight on Saturdays, but this time on Sunday. I just can't wait. I know he's ready. I'm only a pound away. I'm in the best shape. If they thought my last performance was great, I'm going to outshine the last one." "Every fighter has an opportunity to make a name. That's their goal, and that's my goal as well. To make my dreams happen, I have to crush his. I know he's ready. I know it's going to be a tough fight. I know every fight is going to be a step-up fight." Juan Leon "This is a dream come true. It's incredible. I want to thank God. I also want to thank my promoter. So, I'm inspired to come here and give everything." On receiving the offer to fight Vargas "At first, I didn't believe it. I thought it was a joke. But then I saw it was real. I'm filled with inspiration to give everything." Art Barrera Jr. "I've been busy. I just fought three, four weeks ago. This is obviously a bigger card, bigger opportunity, so it's definitely a great opportunity to show my skill set." Raeese Aleem "I'm excited to fight. Every time I step in the ring, I bring it. I earned the nickname 'The Beast' for a reason. Fast hands, fast feet, explosive... I'm an entertaining fighter." On a potential fight with Espinoza "I've been trying to fight 'The Tree.' I've been trying to knock that tree down. We'll see what happens. I have to get through this fight, It's going to be a tough fight. Every fight at this level is extremely tough, but I'm going to show up and show out, and I'm looking for a big fight next." Sunday, May 4 ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas, 12 rounds, Inoue's Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez, 12 rounds, Espinoza's WBO Featherweight World Title ESPN+ (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT) Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana, 10 rounds, Polanco's WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Title Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Juan Leon, 8 rounds, Vacant Jr NABF Junior Welterweight Title Mikito Nakano vs. Pedro Marquez, 10 rounds, Featherweight Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr., 6 rounds, Junior Middleweight Raeese Aleem vs. Rudy Garcia, 10 rounds, Featherweight Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith, 4 rounds, Cruiserweight (swing bout)  |
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