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The stars are aligning for Naoya Inoue to be a top contender for Fighter of the Year in 2025. First, the undisputed super bantamweight champion must get past Ramon Cardenas on May 4. The fight in Las Vegas airs on ESPN+ and Fubo in the U.S.
Inoue (29-0) competes in the U.S. for the first time since 2021. The four-division champion is undisputed in two weight classes. A win puts him on the path to facing Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Nick Ball, and Junto Nakatani.
"The Monster" has 26 wins via knockout and is on an incredible run of 10 straight wins via the power punch. He's ready to continue that streak against Cardenas.
WATCH: Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas on Fubo
Cardenas (26-1) is on a 14-fight win streak and competes in his first world title fight. He has 14 victories via knockout and can potentially match Inoue in strikes. While the massive underdog, he has enough confidence to believe anything is possible.
"I know this is the type of fight and moment that can eat people up, but the ring doesn't change," Cardenas said via BoxingScene. "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 this moment, and now I have to take advantage of it."
Another world champion competes on the Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas undercard, while young prospects look to impress.
Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas undercard
Here's a breakdown of all the action on the Inoue vs. Cardenas card.
Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Espinoza record: 26-0
- Vazquez record: 17-2
- Belts at stake: WBO featherweight title
The co-main event will see Rafael Espinoza put the WBO featherweight title on the line against Edward Vazquez.
Espinoza (26-0) has defended the title twice since stunning Robeisy Ramirez to win gold. Proving it wasn't a fluke, he beat Ramirez in December. Though there are contenders to deal with, Espinoza has his eyes on Inoue.
On a two-fight win streak, Vazquez (17-2) competes in his second world title fight after failing to capture super featherweight gold against Joe Cordina.
Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana
- Division/Weight: Welterweight
- Polanco record: 15-0
- Maidana record: 24-3
- Belts at stake: N/A
Rohan Polanco faces Fabian Maidana.
A 2020 Olympian, Polanco (15-0) is ranked tenth by the WBO at welterweight. The 26-year-old Dominican won three fights in 2024 and looks to already go 2-0 in 2025.
MORE: 25 Under 25: Ranking the best boxing prospects and champions in 2024
The brother of former world champion Marcos Maidana, Fabian (24-3) has faced elite-level competition. He lost against Mario Barrios last May for the interim WBC title. He has since won two straight and looks to halt Polanco's momentum.
Emiliano Vargas vs. Juan Leon
- Division/Weight: Super Lightweight
- Vargas record: 13-0
- Leon record: 11-2-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Emiliano Vargas takes on Juan Leon.
The son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, Emiliano (13-0) won over 100 amateur fights before turning pro in 2022. The multi-time amateur champion, 21, looks to go 2-0 in 2025 and earn his fifth straight win via knockout.
Leon (11-2-1) is on a three-fight win streak. It is his first fight in the U.S. since 2022, and he debuted five years before Vargas.
Mikito Nakano vs. Pedro Marquez
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Nakano record: 12-0
- Marquez record: 16-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card, Mikito Nakano faces Pedro Marquez.
Ranked in the top ten at featherweight by the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO, Nakano (12-0) has won local gold in Japan. The 29-year-old has won all but one fight via knockout.
Marquez (16-1) is on a 15-fight win streak, and the Puerto Rican competes in Las Vegas for the first time.
Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr.
- Division/Weight: Super Welterweight
- Barrera record: 8-0
- Guerra record: 6-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Art Barrera Jr. faces Juan Carlos Guerra Jr.
A Golden Gloves champion, the 19-year-old Barrera (8-0) went 5-0 in 2024 and looks to go 2-0 in 2025. He has six wins via knockout.
WATCH: Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas on Fubo
Guerra (6-1-1) is ready to end Barrera's momentum. He is 2-0-1 in his last three fights, beating Nico Ali Walsh in his last bout. He looks to go from winning local gold in Illinois to being a top-ranked fighter.
Raeese Aleem vs. Rudy Garcia
- Division/Weight: Featherweight
- Aleem record: 21-1
- Garcia record: 13-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Raeese Aleem takes on Rudy Garcia.
Aleem (21-1) beat Vic Pasillas in 2021 for the interim WBA super bantamweight title. He has since gone 3-1, losing against Sam Goodman in 2023. The veteran looks to step it up and move back up the cards.
Garcia (13-1-1) is 1-1-1 in his last three fights. "El Tiburon" last fought in 2023 and had his last win in 2022.
Patrick O'Connor vs. Marcus Smith
- Division/Weight: Cruiserweight
- O'Connor record: N/A
- Smith record: 2-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Patrick O'Connor faces Marcus Smith.
A multi-time amateur National Champion, O'Connor makes his pro debut. He looks for his first win against Smith (2-1), 1-1 in his last two fights.
Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas tune-in info
- Date: Sunday, May 4
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET | 7 p.m. PT | 3 a.m. BST | 12 p.m. AEST
- Main event start tme (approx.): 11:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. PT | 4:30 a.m. BST | 12 p.m. AEST
- Location: T-Mobile Arena - Las Vegas
- Live stream: ESPN+ | Fubo
Fight fans can watch Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas on ESPN+. You can subscribe to ESPN+ for $11.99 on a monthly subscription and $119.99 on an annual subscription.
The fight is also on ESPN. Cord-cutters can also stream the fight on Fubo, which is currently offering a free trial.
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