Undisputed junior featherweight champion and pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue will face Ramon Cardenas on May 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, promoter Top Rank announced Wednesday.
Anticipation had been building for the U.S. return of Japan’s Inoue, 29-0 (26 KOs), a 31-year-old four-division champion whose past eight fights have been staged in his home country. Inoue has fought on three occasions in America – including twice in Las Vegas – but not since a 2021 knockout of Michael Dasmarinas.
“I am thankful to the fans in America who have followed my career,” Inoue said. 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.”
Top Rank’s announcement confirmed previous reporting by BoxingScene, which was the first tease of a loaded Cinco de Mayo weekend – now something of an annual holiday on the boxing calendar.
THE MONSTER TAKES AMERICA.
P4P king @NaoyaInoue_410 defends his undisputed crown vs Ramon Cardenas Sunday, May 4 at @TMobileArena
Pre-sale begins tomorrow at 10AM PT. pic.twitter.com/4NanzA4BUV
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 12, 2025
On Saturday, May 3, three-belt unified super middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will try to again become undisputed in the division when he faces fellow belt holder William Scull. Cinco de Mayo weekend has been a staple on the personal schedule of Mexico’s Alvarez for years now.
Meanwhile, Inoue gets his own date – Sunday, May 4 – and the proper Las Vegas treatment he was denied in his previous visits, which came at the height of the pandemic. Inoue, who has stopped each of his past 10 opponents – including most recently Ye Joon Kim in January at Ariake Arena in Koto-Ku, Japan – appears to still be at the height of his boxer-puncher powers.
“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.”
Cardenas, 26-1 (14 KOs), is a 29-year-old from San Antonio who most recently won a unanimous but tightly contested decision over Bryan Acosta on February 8 in San Antonio.
“This means the world to me,” Cardenas said. “I’ve always aspired to fight for a world title, but to get a chance to fight for all the belts is a dream come true. I always knew our paths would cross. I never had any doubts. When the fight was offered, I instantly accepted. I wouldn’t say it’s a lottery ticket, but you can’t turn it down if you get a chance at the undisputed title. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”