Leading up to Sunday night, the highly anticipated boxing weekend had largely fallen flat, with prominent fighters like Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney delivering underwhelming performances.
However, Naoya Inoue rose to the occasion, salvaging the weekend with a spectacular display against Ramon Cardenas, who deserves credit for his courageous effort against `The Monster`.
Inoue successfully defended his undisputed junior featherweight championship, stopping Cardenas in an exciting eighth round at T-Mobile Arena. This performance solidified his status as a truly must-see fighter. Although he may not possess the social media following of Garcia or the global recognition of Canelo, Inoue`s showing on Sunday arguably established him as the sport`s most thrilling competitor.
The bout offered everything fans crave: Inoue overcame a second-round knockdown, Cardenas demonstrated remarkable toughness and determination, and ultimately, Inoue`s relentless pressure proved too much. It was a fight that delighted the crowd and rescued the boxing weekend from potential disaster.
Inoue continues his pursuit of history. Already one of only three male boxers to become undisputed in two weight classes, he remains driven, hinting at a move to featherweight to attempt an unprecedented third undisputed title. His next challenge is against Murodjon `MJ` Akhmadaliev in Tokyo this September, followed by a potential clash with fellow Japanese champion Junto Nakatani in 2026.
Inoue`s uniqueness lies in his commitment to securing definitive wins, aiming to finish opponents before the judges are needed. His impressive 90% knockout rate is particularly notable for a fighter in smaller weight classes, and he has consistently stopped elite competition like Stephen Fulton, Marlon Tapales, and Luis Nery. He boasts an active streak of 11 consecutive knockout victories in title bouts and shows no signs of slowing down. Combining his significant power for his size with his aggressive, pleasing style, he has all the ingredients of a global superstar, contrasting with some less engaging performances seen from others on the weekend.
In summary, Inoue is not merely one of the world`s best boxers; he is undoubtedly one of its most exciting.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow