May 4, 2025, Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Despite being a heavy underdog, Cardenas delivered a stunning performance, knocking Inoue down in the second round with a powerful left hook, marking only the second time Inoue had been floored in his career
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00:00Spectacular night here in Las
00:03Vegas and a great reception for
00:07Naoya Inouye all week long it has
00:10been nearly four years since the
00:13monster has returned to the
00:14States and he does so as one of
00:17the greats of all time as a four
00:19division world champion as an
00:21undisputed world champion in two
00:23weight classes and now Ramon
00:26Cardenas takes on that challenge
00:28to the San Antonio based veteran
00:31who is stepping up to 12 round
00:33status for the first time ranked in
00:37the top 10 of three of the
00:38organizations
00:58record阶iden you know he's doing
01:14it is good I know.
01:16One again at the end of the possibly
01:19least and amazing to see the
01:20history very good and so and so
01:24Ramon Cardenas makes his way to the ring for the biggest moment of his professional career at 29 years old.
01:36Mark Kregel detailed the story of his inspiration, of what he's fighting for.
01:42His original trainer having passed away, the man who taught him the fight game.
01:47He wants to return home to Texas with all four of these belts and lay them on his gravestone.
01:54A massive underdog taking on a massive challenge.
02:07He wants to go to the bottom of the white number if you want, all right?
02:14Got that mob card?
02:15Yeah.
02:19We love you and you!
02:25Please!
02:26We ain't here!
02:28We lost, son, baby.
02:31I won't call it.
02:32They won't call.
02:33I'll call.
02:34Now in a way first one the light flyweight title in just his sixth his sixth
03:04pro fight back in 2014 he was only 20 years old he made one defense and moved
03:12up he won a junior bantamweight world championship in his eighth fight he made
03:20seven defenses then the sky was the limit for a bantamweight title his third
03:26division conquered he went on to great fame to awards to global success to the
03:36pound-for-pound list and now a four division world champion undisputed in
03:43two divisions the pound-for-pound great the monster here to defend all his belts
03:52on a Sunday night in Vegas
04:01for the official introduction here's Jimmy Lennon jr
04:08ladies and gentlemen we welcome you to the main event of the evening
04:21and to all our friends celebrating May 5th
04:25welcome aficionados al box
04:29nippon no boxing fan no minasama konbanwa
04:36indeed we welcome you ladies and gentlemen to the T-Mobile Arena here in Las Vegas Nevada
04:42as Bob Arum's top rank incorporated presents the featured bout of the evening in association with Ohashi promotion and taken the promotions brought to you by Miller light here cheers to another round of Miller time and by drafting sports book the crown is yours presented by the refreshing tastes of twisted tea hard ice tea keep it twisted sponsored by El Mexicano brand products
05:11bringing authentic sabor to your table Somos el mexicano and by undisputed the boxing video game out now on ps5 xbox and pc and also brought to you by Riyadh season and the T-Mobile arena
05:33introducing our three judges scoring a main event from ringside from New York Max DeLuca from Oklahoma David Sutherland and from New Jersey Steve Weisfeld and introducing to you our third man to the ring the referee in charge of the action Thomas Taylor
05:51hello
05:53alright fans here we go 12 rounds of boxing for the wba wbo ibf and wbc undisputed 122 pound championship of the world
06:06and now ladies and gentlemen in attendance and boxing fans joining us around the world
06:12around the world, live from Las Vegas, it's time for the main event of the evening.
06:28Introducing to you first, the challenger on my left, fighting out of the blue corner,
06:33presented in association with Pro Box and Samson Boxing, wearing black trunks with silver
06:39trim, fighting out of the beautiful city of San Antonio, Texas, by way of his heritage
06:45of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
06:50He weighed in at 121.8 pounds, with a record of 26 wins and one defeat, he has 14 wins coming
06:57by way of knockout.
07:00Tonight he is making his first attempt at a world title, ladies and gentlemen, please
07:05welcome the battle-ready challenger and world-ranked contender, introducing Ramon Dinamita Cardenas.
07:21And his opponent across the ring, the defending world champion, really needing no introduction
07:27the world over, fighting out of the red corner, wearing white trunks with grey trim.
07:34Hailing from Zama Kanagawa, Japan, he weighed in at 121.9 pounds.
07:42He is undefeated in his campaign, 29 wins, no losses, 26 wins coming by way of knockout.
07:51Here is boxing superstar and pound-for-pound great, the acclaimed four-division world champion.
07:57Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the undefeated, reigning and defending, undisputed junior featherweight
08:06champion of the world, introducing Naoya, the Monster Inoue!
08:17Once again, the referee in charge is Thomas Taylor, now to give instructions.
08:25Thomas Taylor, his 34th world title fight.
08:28Come on this side.
08:30Come on this side.
08:32All right, let coach know over here, everything from the grey letters up is going to be good.
08:37Everything from the white letters up here is going to be good, all right?
08:40Gentlemen, you've got my instructions in the back.
08:42Protect yourselves at all times, listen to my commands.
08:44Touch them up, back to your corner gentlemen.
08:49Joe Tessitore and Tim Bradley on the call with you ringside for the undisputed Junior Featherweight Championship of the World.
08:55Timmy, we were watching closely the eyes of both men, but specifically Ramon Cardenas, his first world title fight.
09:03What did you see?
09:05You ready?
09:06Timmy, no doubt about it.
09:08However, I mean, Tess, the first thing Cardenas has to do is he has to feel like he belonged in the ring.
09:13Exactly.
09:14That's what, that's the first thing, and he has to feel that he believes that he can win.
09:19What does that translate to in the ring?
09:22What does he have to do in the ring to gain that confidence that he should be on this stage against this monster?
09:28Well, he got to land.
09:30He got to land some offense against Inouye.
09:32He has to feel that, hey, I have the boxing skills to be able to compete with him.
09:35It's going to all be done by success, Tess, how much success he has in his first few rounds.
09:46Inouye measuring with the jab, tripling it up, goes on the attack with a three-punch combination.
09:50Yeah, a nice high-tight guard from Cardenas.
09:53By the way, the jab for Inouye, Timmy, 7.6 per round.
09:58That's number three among all elite championship-level fighters.
10:06He understands the sweet science, one, and he understands the game that, hey,
10:10if I get my jab working, everything else is going to fall in line.
10:14The power shots he's able to set up off that jab.
10:18That's just boxing one-on-one, Tess.
10:21Mm.
10:22Beautiful one-two right there.
10:24Nice jab, splitting the guard of Inouye.
10:26Good timing right now from Cardenas.
10:29That's what he's going to...
10:30Strong out a jab of his own.
10:31He's going to have to depend on timing.
10:33Nice.
10:34Works to the inside against Inouye.
10:35Didn't throw the right hand behind it.
10:37No, but the jab right now is finding his way home.
10:40Good timing again from Cardenas.
10:42Beating Inouye to the punch.
10:44A lot quicker than Inouye probably thought or imagined thus far from Cardenas with that jab.
10:51Of course, when it comes to speed generating power, there are a few like Naoya Inouye.
10:58Some jab steady work in this first round with it from the Monsters.
11:08Good counter attempt right there from Cardenas.
11:11Blocked by the right hand of Inouye.
11:13Yes, it was.
11:14However, I still like the approach.
11:15Yeah.
11:16Hey, listen.
11:17Throw it.
11:22He's looking for that counter.
11:23He's looking for Inouye.
11:24He's trying to time him on his way in.
11:27He's looking to throw a left hook over the top of the right hand of Inouye.
11:32Went away very consistent here in this final minute.
11:39With that lead hand, popping that jab time and again.
11:42First world title challenge in the career of San Antonio's Ramon Cardenas.
11:51You can hear his corner saying watch that distance as they come to the end of round number one.
12:01The Monsters back in the States.
12:03The Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Championship fight.
12:06We're going to take a short break and be back live in Vegas.
12:09Okay.
12:10I want you to be smart.
12:11Okay?
12:12You're staying too straight.
12:13Okay?
12:14When you see that fucking one-two-eight, stay low.
12:15With a good defense up here.
12:16Okay?
12:17Hey, Jay.
12:18Next round.
12:19Next round, I take the water.
12:20Okay.
12:21Here goes that one.
12:22Here goes that one.
12:23Okay?
12:24You stand there.
12:25Okay?
12:26That's okay.
12:27Okay?
12:28You're still staying outside.
12:29Okay?
12:30Hey, Jay.
12:31Next round.
12:32Next round, I take the water.
12:33Okay, let's go around that one.
12:35Here goes that one.
12:38Be careful.
12:39You're not even more at your point.
12:41You're not staying in front of me.
12:42I'm just staying in front of me, so I'm someone's staying in front.
12:48Okay?
12:49Now, when it comes one-two-eight, fuck you.
12:50fucking shoot out that book body or head i don't give a fuck where okay you good okay let me ask
13:03let's go guys anyway two ramon two number two
13:12it is 12 14 p.m monday afternoon in tokyo where the country sits back
13:19and watches this action in prime time here in vegas where naoya in a way the undisputed champion
13:25through 30 jabs in that first round here's the right hand yeah that's a vertical jab with the
13:29thumb faced up towards the ceiling coming behind blinding him with that jab and coming right with
13:34that right hand you're going to see more of that moving forward however in a way right now again
13:40the problem right now that carnet is making is he's standing right in front of anyway you know
13:45he got to make in a way pick up his feet a little bit like that some work on the inside and skid away
13:50covers up defensively exactly but it's going to cover up you got to let the hands go and he at
13:56least did exactly so that's two things two things test you got to think about when you before you
14:01get in mid-range or your opposition actually getting the mid-range before you either you're going to
14:07punch or you better have something in your back pocket meaning defense to offense and right now
14:14cardi that's just sitting right there in front not doing much on the offensive side
14:18and that is a recipe for disaster goes to the body with the right hand backs it up with the left hand
14:24does cardinus
14:36jab from cardinus
14:39in a way comes back trying to sweep that right hand to the body and he goes to a combination that
14:45finishes with the left hand upstairs
14:50cardinus has the high he's a high guard he's staying tight with his guard as well
14:55see a little little blood right there coming from the nose of in a way
15:00not sure where that blood's coming from
15:02ooh just off the mark with that right hand cardinus in a way just turned away from that
15:08full right hand from cardinus
15:13the upset-seeking american
15:21see cardinus now he's making anyway trying to pick up his feet and starting to bring that pressure
15:26starting to bring that pressure towards in a way he talked about how do you gain confidence this is
15:30how you gain confidence absolutely but here comes anyway anyway likes this type of fight test
15:36he does we don't like the right hand a little bit of blood coming from the nose you're right timmy
15:41he don't like to be pushed back not at all but cardinus i think he found a little secret
15:47in a way he's great at mid-range great on the outside as well but inside
15:51does he have the skill to compete against cardin
15:55i'm just trying to turn over that sweeping left foot there's a way with him against the
15:58oh there he is
16:00the monster's now cardinus catches him my oh my yep what a shocker here in round two
16:12can you believe what you just saw yep there are books in the desert that has him as a hundred to one
16:20underdogs and he just put in a way down
16:36right yeah it's second round cover cover cover cover cover
16:41short cover cover cover cover cover cover cover cover cover cover cover cover cover okay there he's
16:52going to throw him with a as soon as you see a body shot throw punches he's coming with a lot of power
16:58in a way right now had cardinus along the ropes putting the combinations together however left himself
17:04exposed dropped that right hand guess what cardinus took a little small little angle change his position
17:11anyway followed him out didn't see that left hook coming boom set him down anaway has been down
17:17two times in his career it happened in the first round against lewis nary it happened you know the
17:22thriller against donaire when he was cut over the right eye how does he react
17:27comes out on the attack yep a knockdown scored in round two
17:40by cardinus yep part of the san antonio based upset seeking ramon cardinus stay right here stay right here
17:47let's see all right we got an accident on headbutton no cut come here guys stop stop stop watch those
17:54heads all right go no cut on the accidental clash there's a sweeping right hand from the monster
18:03the monster needs to be defensively responsible after he punches
18:07carniness right now what he's doing he's waiting on a mistake he's waiting on in a way to get greedy
18:13and he knows that opposite hand that catch and shoot is available for him he's looking for that hold
18:19i'm telling you i give you credit for what you broke down just before this main event in your lab segment
18:25when you talked about that opposite hand when you talked about it being that boy he went for it there
18:31i'm going to time and sweep that left hook again as in a way probes with the jab goes to the body
18:38showing levels now and cardinus comes forward inching ahead
18:43downscored in round two by cardinus
18:55and cardinus staying real tight behind that defense as well
19:00in a way he's having a hard time really penetrating that that that high guard he really is it's tight
19:05three punch combination tried to split the guard with the right hand came back with the left to finish
19:13the right hand to the body caught a little bit of the flank and a little bit of the elbow
19:27yep anytime and then another thing that cardinus is doing is is anytime
19:30he sees oh i'm telling you man i told you he knows how to punch in between but anytime he sees anyway
19:36going to the high guard it's a proud little bit with the left hand again
19:40that's another issue doubles up the right hand
19:51right hand from the monster anyway comes forward on the attack oh he is sitting on that left hand with
19:59that hook all night long he has come to make magic and try to shock the world as in a way willing down
20:07to the inside oh my man we're going to take a short break when we come back we'll show you the knockdown
20:13again oh what do we have here in vegas tonight
20:17okay
20:28okay
20:30okay
20:31it's just a little swelling
20:36okay
20:37hey you can break them down if you just put pressure on them
20:40in water okay come on yeah put you get on the shell and walk them down but when you're inside go to the
20:47body and then uppercut body and uppercut i need you to start touching the body a little bit
20:51uh
21:07let's go back to tim bradley's lab that he showed all of us pre-fight this is what jimmy was explaining the
21:14Flawed defensively with Naoya Inouye, and it showed up in the second round, Tim.
21:19You explain this pre-match.
21:21You see any resemblance right there?
21:23Same exact shot right there.
21:26Left hook on the inside.
21:28The undisputed champion was floored in the second round.
21:31The upset-seeking Ramon Cardenas, who at the beginning of this fight,
21:37Inouye was a minus 6,500 favorite.
21:41Minus 6,500.
21:42The current odds on ESPN bet.
21:46He's minus 400.
21:48Bernardo.
21:50I just spoke with Joel Diaz, and he says,
21:52Look, I asked Ramon to pressure more and dig to the body,
21:56and he told me, Coach, he doesn't crack.
21:58And I said, Yes, he does crack.
22:00Just stay confident, but don't make mistakes.
22:06He said he doesn't crack, and that's the first indication right there.
22:10Again, he's mentally in this fight, Tess.
22:13That's what I'm talking about.
22:14He's mentally believes that he can take Inouye's shot,
22:17so he's here to endure whatever it takes to be able to get off his offense.
22:21Tess, I'm telling you, he's looking for that counter, Tess.
22:25That last round, he was just a little bit off the mark.
22:29If Inouye slows down a bit and gets laxed on his defense, it's going to be night-night, Tess.
22:34Timmy, before this fight, I turned to you and said, Just answer this question.
22:38Real simple.
22:39We got a minus 6,500 favorite in a pound-for-pound elite.
22:45Does Cardenas have a puncher's chance?
22:46You didn't even hesitate.
22:47You said yes and a little more.
22:52He has, you know what he has?
22:54Again, IQ, he's a well-rounded fighter, but he has dynamite in both hands.
23:01He has good timing.
23:02I saw that on film.
23:03Great timing, and he knows how to punch in between shots.
23:06And with what happened in the second round, when he floored Inouye, he just keeps bubbling up with confidence.
23:15So throw punches like that.
23:17Inouye, though, timing it.
23:18Now Inouye on the attack with a combination.
23:26Inouye's trying to again penetrate that defense.
23:28Doubles up the left hand upstairs and then downstairs to the body.
23:32It's beautiful work by Inouye, no doubt about it, but he's got to be responsible defensively.
23:38Has to be.
23:40Oh, he caught him.
23:43Wide sweeping, and he made him pay.
23:45And now he goes to the body.
23:46Then he goes upstairs.
23:47Back to the body.
23:48And Cardenas fires with return.
23:51Good right hand from Inouye.
23:53And now the accuracy is showing up.
23:58And the desire to have fights like this.
24:02Big round for Inouye.
24:04Oh, he's turning it on.
24:07Cardenas is covering up.
24:09And the monster is showing what he's about.
24:18You'll be able to see the corners while we take this commercial break.
24:22It's a great fight.
24:23Oh, it's a great fight.
24:53Also, try not to miss because if you go through, he'll catch you.
25:00That could be a mistake.
25:02He can catch you on the way out with a bad punch.
25:05Okay?
25:06Hey!
25:07Why aren't you fucking doing this, this, this, this?
25:10Why are you staying here?
25:11It's good to keep your hands here.
25:23When we were preparing all week to call this fight, there were moments where I didn't think I'd be tossing it over to Mark Griegel to even get a scorecard at the end of four.
25:37Mark, how do you have it?
25:3938, 37, Ramon Cardenas.
25:43One thing that Inouye told me this week was what he learned from the nary knockdown.
25:49No doubt Cardenas believes in himself, but that knockdown taught Inouye something.
25:54Knockdown tonight happens in the second round.
25:58Inouye now is totally aware of what Cardenas is using.
26:02He understands that he's punching right after he's punching and punching with him with the left hook.
26:07So what he's doing is now he's just pulling.
26:10He's like, okay, I'm going to get my offense off, but I know you're going to shoot right afterwards.
26:14So I'm going to pull my body back out of range and then I'm going to come back with some offense.
26:18That's what you see in a minor adjustment from Inouye.
26:23Earlier tonight, just the second time in the career of Inouye that he has been knocked down.
26:27We saw the odds swing way in the favor the other way as Cardenas was showing his stuff.
26:33Remember, Inouye, minus 6,500 favorite at the start of the night.
26:39But after that last round, when he came back, back up to minus 1,300.
26:44That shows you the entertainment value you're getting here with this undisputed world championship fight.
26:51But look at the last round. Inouye bounces back and looked awesome.
26:55was 29 out of 80 thrown.
27:02Come on, let go young.
27:04Come on, let go young.
27:10Again, Inouye, walking that tight line right there.
27:16Beautiful slip counter right there from Cardenas.
27:19Counter right hand, overhand right down.
27:22Inouye again.
27:23He loves that rope.
27:24I'm telling you, that tight line.
27:26He gets close to the fire.
27:27He's trying not to get burned.
27:28But gosh, I'm telling you, Cardenas is right off the mark.
27:32I mean, man, a few more inches with that shot, he gonna be able to land.
27:36I'm telling you.
27:37Cardenas is digging in.
27:39And when he fires, he brings it.
27:42But what he needs to do is he needs to take the level down.
27:45Go to the shoulder or step in.
27:48One little half a step forward when he throws that left hook,
27:51and he will catch in the way.
27:54It was the left hook that did the damage in the second round.
27:58Cardenas has landed 23 power punches for this point.
28:01There's a combination with a right hand split in the guard,
28:03and then a left hand going to the body from the monster.
28:06And it has an 82 to 47 connect advantage to this point.
28:15Oh, a fudding right hand in Cardenas.
28:16Ooh, we heard him with that shot.
28:18He heard him with a body shot.
28:19Cardenas fires back to the body.
28:21He's got such heart in there.
28:31Okay.
28:32그들의 fire coming back.
28:34Oh.
28:35Anything that were last in the story of his ex or his ex?
28:36Give me back.
28:37If you're gonna move your head like that, lean forward.
28:38Understand?
28:39I love you one of his chars.
28:40I love you one of his two.
28:41I love him one of his chars.
28:42I love you one of his chillers.
28:43I love him one of his mates.
28:44He's going to be a seront.
28:45Come on, let's go, let's go, let's go!
29:15And move your head side to side and step in.
29:17Can't wake up and go, hey!
29:18Scott, you're gonna catch him sooner or later.
29:20Kotz, kotz, kotz, kotz!
29:22Shoot ya, huh?
29:33Now you, in a way, has often said that he wants to make fights that people enjoy.
29:40Well, everybody is wildly entertained with what we are seeing tonight.
29:44Give credit for Ramon Cardenas for delivering with power.
29:49We're here in round number six.
29:52Inouye has a 91 to 53 connect advantage,
29:56but he has been floored for just the second time in his career.
30:03Tess, this is the first fight that I've seen in Inouye where his power is not...
30:08Hasn't transitioned well, Tess, at once for 122.
30:12It's a body shot that just landed there.
30:14Look, he's hitting them with everything.
30:16And Cardenas already told Joel that he was like, hey, he don't have power.
30:20He's used to fighting bigger guys.
30:22Cardenas is.
30:23Inouye came in from the lower weight classes,
30:25but this is the first time me actually seeing a guy stand directly in front of him and say, I don't fear you.
30:30Referencing Joel Diaz, the veteran trainer of Ramon Cardenas, who of course, Timmy, was with you for so many years.
30:39Absolutely.
30:40Back to the body with that probing jab from the monster.
30:52Catches him on the inside with a right hand underneath that attack to the body.
30:57Now you gotta keep in mind that Cardenas, this is first 12-rounder.
31:01Yes, exactly.
31:02First world title fight in the career of Cardenas.
31:05And something that is critical when Cardenas is scoring.
31:07We heard him with that.
31:08Here goes the monster, and he's got a lot of time to work with.
31:12Varying attack to the head, to the body.
31:15Cardenas is in that neutral corner and a strafing attack.
31:19He's in a whole lot of trouble now.
31:22Oh, he heard him with that body shot too, Tess.
31:24Left hand to the body comes in from Inouye.
31:27Can Cardenas survive this last minute of round six?
31:32Cardenas sitting on the left hook, Tess.
31:35He's sitting on it.
31:36He's waiting.
31:37He's waiting.
31:38His body explodes.
31:39Left hook that did damage earlier.
31:40But Inouye, unrelenting.
31:43Now Cardenas gives an angle, turns things around, and he comes swinging out.
31:50Inouye said he loves the war.
31:52He loves these type of fights.
31:53Oh, what a great round we've got here.
31:57The heart and grit of Cardenas.
32:01The elite offensive attack of Inouye.
32:05Right hand, and then a body shot.
32:07Simply body shot, right?
32:08Left hand swept across the belt line, and Cardenas has to gather himself now.
32:13Short left uppercut.
32:15Just missed with the right.
32:16Oh!
32:17Comes back with the left.
32:18Attack.
32:19After attack.
32:20To the body.
32:21Look at this punishment!
32:24Final seconds of round six.
32:26This is the way it's supposed to look!
32:29He's different, Tess!
32:30He's different!
32:31He's different!
32:32Man, oh man, is that great stuff!
32:36Let's take you to where we've arrived.
32:53let's take you to where we've arrived the highlights unbelievable through six rounds
33:07it has been a throw it absolutely has both guys made the second round right here oh my gosh
33:13landing that left hook beautiful that's a signature left hook from cardenas right there
33:19cardenas feels that hey i can take his punching power no doubt i can sit in front of this monster
33:25however as the rounds continue as cardenas continues to take these punches over and over
33:32whether they're landing cleanly or not that takes a lot out of you but you saw in that last round
33:38anyway going forward he understands now what cardenas is trying to do and now he's taking
33:45that away from him now what we got to see is what cardenas have planned moving forward in that
33:50sixth round now you in a way through 90 punches landed 48 but look at this 33 of them were power
33:58punches in the last round 33 power punches landed in the last round by in a way
34:03you see in a way keep pulling away from that left hook he sees it he has it down now
34:15let's check in with bernardo in the corner of ramon cardenas they do not want in a way having the
34:24momentum they want gardeners to go forward and attack and pressure because that's when he had success
34:29earlier on absolutely now i mean look when you have a line like in a way and he's pushing you back
34:37he knows the end is near and he's going forward oh in a way getting caught right there standing
34:44straight up oh that was good kill shot right there attempt from in a way
34:48san antonio base ramon cardenas giving everything he possibly can but finding out
34:59there's leather offensive levels to this game
35:02and when you go against in a way oh oh the level is different he broke his back test
35:08look at this attack here halfway through round seven
35:12did you see how he crumbled along the roadside did
35:15oh he sends him back with that left hand to the side
35:19the body shots have been effective but then the right hands sneak in as well
35:25comes up and around with the left hook upstairs
35:28all he needs is a little bit of separation yet look at carnage still standing right in the kitchen
35:40look at the fighting carnage putting a fire on in a way digging with body shots
35:46don't you just love the heart right uppercut on the inside
35:51shoulder to shoulder
36:06separation with the right hand and that sends carton is back a few steps
36:11and another right hand
36:14oh but it knocks him down
36:16a right hand scores the knockdown
36:19final seconds of round seven
36:29can he get to the bell or will the monster strike
36:34give you that one try
36:47let's see
36:48i have to be careful
36:53yeah
36:54you can't feel bad
36:57You have to take care of a lot.
37:27Cardenas pit in the corner in a way, making sure that he seals the deal with these combinations right here and trying to close this match.
37:44Joel Diaz in the corner of Ramon Cardenas says, I'm giving you one more round.
37:48Cardenas said, why? He says, because you're slowing down.
37:51He's also taking immense punishment. 101 power punches absorbed through seven rounds.
38:05In a way, made the adjustments. See, that's a high boxing IQ.
38:09He got hit with that shot. Now he's very aware of it now, Tess.
38:14And Cardenas has yet to land that same shot again that he landed in the second round.
38:19Body shot, right hand. He's in trouble again.
38:23Here in this eighth round, it's all in a way, and it's all over.
38:29In a way is great in eight.
38:32When you watch the fight game, you should be in awe of what you're seeing, saying, how are they taking that?
38:56How are they giving that? And how awesome is it?
39:01That's what this undisputed world championship fight was.
39:06That's what it's supposed to look like.
39:09And it delivered.
39:10They traded knockdowns.
39:12They gave everything they could.
39:14A massive underdog showed fire and grip.
39:18An all-time great proved himself.
39:22And a massive crowd in Vegas loved every single second of it.
39:28Take us through it, Timmy.
39:30Oh, my gosh.
39:31What a finish by Noya Inouye.
39:34Again, when he knows he has his man hurt,
39:37when he can feel that he's not given any kind of resistance,
39:40he goes in for the kill.
39:42At this point, it was just a matter of time.
39:45Inouye knows it.
39:46He felt it before he even stepped out during the round.
39:50Again, too much firepower.
39:53I don't care.
39:54He doesn't care.
39:55Hell yeah, you drop me.
39:56However, guess what?
39:58I'm going to drop and stop you as well.
40:01This is what greatness looked like, Tess.
40:04This is what greatness looked like.
40:06This is what the pound-for-pound fighters in the game supposed to be doing.
40:10Let's give it up for carniness.
40:13Absolutely.
40:13For giving us a fight.
40:16I mean, truly, he showed up.
40:18Not for a paycheck, Tess.
40:21He showed up.
40:21His first world title fight in against the monster.
40:25And we said early on, you looked at his eyes and you just questioned it.
40:30But if he could get something early and gain confidence,
40:33and that's exactly what happened.
40:36Let's make it official with Jimmy Lennon Jr.
40:43Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time.
40:4645 seconds in round number eight.
40:49A referee stops the contest.
40:51He is the winner by way of technical knockout.
40:55And still, the undefeated, undisputed, junior featherweight champion of the world,
41:03Naoya, the monster, Inoue!
41:09He's now 30-0 with 27 knockouts.
41:16And we will hear from him when we come back.
41:19It was an outstanding night here in Vegas.
41:36And Naoya Inoue just won by TKO again.
41:39Bernardo.
41:39With the monster, Naoya Inoue.
41:42Naoya, in our fighter meetings, I asked you when you were happiest in the ring.
41:49And you said, when I'm in a brawl.
41:51What did you think about how happy you were tonight?
41:53I think watching the fight tonight, everybody's very much aware that I like to brawl.
42:16Thank you very much, Nobu.
42:19Now, that round, when he landed that left hook and he dropped you,
42:23what was your thinking at that point?
42:26When I was in a second round, what did you think about how happy you were in the second round?
42:30Well, I was very surprised, but I was able to keep it in the second round.
42:37I was very surprised, but I was able to calmly put myself together.
42:42What were the adjustments you made to avoid that left hook the rest of the fight?
42:46What were the adjustments you made to avoid that right hook?
42:51Well, in the first round, I thought I had a pretty good distance, but in the second round,
43:07it kind of got a little loose, and then from thereafter, I made sure I didn't take that punch again.
43:12You landed 49% of your power punches, 108% of 220%.
43:18What was that like in terms of him being able to take so many shots until the finish?
43:23Well, otherwise, he's really far apart, but I knew he was tough.
43:34But, you know, boxing isn't that easy.
43:35When you look at the future, we had some interested observers tonight.
43:41Shuju Carrington, the number one contender.
43:42We had the featherweight champion, Rafael Espinosa, who had a great victory before you.
43:47What do you want next?
43:48Well, Kennington and Feather-級 players.
43:49Well, who would you want to fight next year?
43:51Well, who would you want to fight next year?
43:53Next, September.
43:54Next, September.
43:55MJ.
43:56Alright.
43:57First fight in America in four years.
43:58First fight in America in four years.
43:59What do you want to fight next year?
44:00Next, September.
44:01MJ.
44:02Alright.
44:03First fight in America in four years.
44:04What did you think?
44:05Because last time we saw you, we were in the bubble.
44:06Alone.
44:07What about the crowd?
44:08What about the crowd?
44:09How did the fans enjoy today?
44:11What about the fans?
44:12We used to have fans of this fight.
44:13Who would you like to fight next year?
44:15First, let's talk now.
44:26Next, September.
44:27MJ.
44:28Alright.
44:29First fight in America in four years.
44:30What did you think?
44:31Because last time we saw you, we were in the bubble.
44:33Alone.
44:34What about the crowd?
44:36They were supportive and great, and I hope I was able to entertain them.
44:48This weekend, you were supposed to be the last, and you turned out to be the best, because Canelo fought last night.
44:55We had the fight in New York. What message did the Monster send to boxing?
45:06Yes, I saw the fight, the two fights before, and I think this was the most exciting fight.
45:21Thank you very much, the Monster, Naoya, in a way.
45:27What an ovation, and an ovation deserved for both men. Ramon Cardenas was so game as well.
45:34We're going to have the state of boxing coming up on the ESPN app.
45:37Sports Center is coming up after the break as the chance echo throughout a jam-packed T-Mobile Arena.
45:45In a way, in a way, he's 30-0 with 27 knockouts in an absolute thriller.
45:54He wins by eighth round TKO.
45:56For Mark Kriegel, the Hall of Famer, Tim Bradley, Bernardo Osuna, I'm Joe Tessitore.
46:01Enjoy the rest of your night. Sports Center is coming up after the break.
46:04And you can join us on the State of Boxing on the app for all the reaction and analysis.
46:08What a night in Vegas!
46:10To the State of Boxing. Beautiful action tonight inside the T-Mobile Arena here in Las Vegas, Nevada.
46:23In just moments, Naoya, in a way, is going to be giving away T-shirts to the fans.
46:41But right now, I have the warrior Ramon Cardenas with me here. Ramon, you came in here and you were a decided underdog.
46:51Very few people thought you could do what you did tonight. Talk to me about how you feel.
46:57I feel good. You know, first things first, I want to thank my manager, my promoter, my team.
47:01You know, I just want to thank the people behind me more than anything.
47:04And other than that, I feel good. You know, the fight was a tough fight.
47:07I said it all at camp. I said it all every interview.
47:10He's pound for pound one of the greatest fighters on the planet.
47:13And, you know, I just wanted to give the fans a fight worth watching.
47:19In that second round, when you were able to drop him with that counter left hook, what went through your mind?
47:24What went through my mind was just to keep working.
47:27Because I knew he was going to come back and I knew he was going to come back stronger.
47:30And for me, we just keep the same game plan. You keep working, keep walking him down.
47:34It looked like in the seventh round, he landed a big shot to your ribs.
47:38Were there any moment that he hurt you?
47:40No, no, no. It wasn't so much the power, man, you know.
47:44Honestly, you know, it wasn't so much the power.
47:46It was more the overwhelmingness of him throwing six, seven, eight punches at a time.
47:51And that's mainly what it was.
47:53It was, you know, he has a solid punch, but nothing where I was scared of.
47:58And in terms of what you think about yourself now,
48:01because you were able to compete with the pound for pound, great like Naoya Inoue.
48:07I mean, it just goes to show, man, that I just want to put Baxing Bax to what it was.
48:11The best fighting the best. You know, I want to thank my promoter more than anything,
48:15because he has an eye for talent, man, and my manager as well.
48:18And they gave me this opportunity, and I didn't want to let them down.
48:21Win, lose, or draw, I had said it all, all interviews.
48:23Win, lose, or draw, I'm going to come out here and I'm going to give it my all,
48:25and I'm going to show people that Baxing's back.
48:28Look, this was a weekend where this was an afterthought.
48:31People thought he was going to come in and blow you out.
48:34After what we saw from Canelo, after what we saw in New York City,
48:38and now you see Naoya Inoue handing you a T-shirt as a memento from this fight.
48:44What did you and Naoya Inoue do for boxing tonight?
48:48What did you and Naoya Inoue do for boxing tonight?
48:51We set the stage. We set the stage for everybody else.
48:57We set the tempo in a sense of now next fights that have to show out,
49:02because what we did tonight was legendary, man.
49:05You know, for the both of us, what we did tonight was legendary,
49:08and that's what it was.
49:09Tonight you were in against the monster.
49:11I can't wait to see what you can do against a regular human being.
49:14I just want to give a big shout-out to all the fans that came out tonight.
49:17And that is how you go out in Vegas.
49:30What a great night.
49:31Yes.
49:32What a great fight.
49:33What a great moment.
49:35Two warriors and fans that you don't see this often in the sport.
49:39The fans are still here.
49:41Nobody is.
49:42There are some people leaving their seat, but people are just standing
49:45and taking it in and talking to each other and cheering.
49:48There's still random cheers that are bursting out.
49:51I think what I sense, what I feel, is gratitude.
49:56Yes, that's exactly it.
49:58The fans just want to breathe it in and cheer these guys on.
50:01On a weekend that was supposed to be, like, in a way it was an afterthought.
50:06Yeah, he stole the weekend.
50:08He really did.
50:09But he did it because of that guy, Ramon Cardenas.
50:12Yes, yes.
50:13And because Cardenas was able to believe in himself.
50:17He said he had to be perfect.
50:19There's his rocky moment, by the way.
50:20Right.
50:21There's his rocky moment.
50:22He may have more rocky moments, Tess.
50:24That's it.
50:25That's rocky one right there.
50:26I got to be perfect for 36 minutes.
50:27Guess what?
50:28He wasn't.
50:29Nobody's perfect, but he's pretty damn good.
50:32You know what you're saying?
50:35They're yearning for more.
50:36Yep.
50:37They want more in a way.
50:38This is what I've been talking about, Tess, about having Inouye come to America and take
50:43it over.
50:44He has everything needed to take over America, for sure.
50:49That's why his fans are still standing still.
50:50If he has the financing.
50:51Oh, yeah.
50:52I mean, look.
50:53Of course.
50:54He can fight in Japan and make, you know.
50:56I understand that.
50:57I wanted something he told me during the week that stayed with me because we hadn't spoken
51:02a while.
51:03I said, hey, I want to ask you about getting knocked down early against Luis Neri a couple
51:08of years in 2023.
51:09He said that was one of my finest moments.
51:12I learned from that what it was like to be knocked down early.
51:15I think he was hurt more this time than he was against Neri, but to be embarrassed
51:21to all of a sudden go down in a big arena with a lot of fans.
51:25I dealt with it, and he dealt with something that was more extraordinary some years before
51:31with Donaire.
51:32But he likes the ball because it brings out the best.
51:35He said it.
51:36But he brings out the best in him and the stuff that you can't forget, the stuff that
51:41stays with you, the reason why these people are staying.
51:44I remember reading something about Queen Elizabeth and what she said.
51:49She said, we must be seen to be believed.
51:55Tonight we saw Inouye here in America for the fourth time.
52:01I want to ask the fans at home, now do you believe?
52:05Do they not believe before?
52:07Look, fighting at odd hours in the morning, I mean that's one thing.
52:13Seeing a social media reel of a knockout that happened early in the morning, that's another
52:20thing.
52:21But actually being here present and witnessing here in America, something different.
52:2811 consecutive world title fights by knockout.
52:3411 consecutive world title fights by knockout.
52:38Now 30-0 with 27 knockouts.
52:40Bernardo, he turned to you and he just simply said, I'd like to brawl.
52:44Look, it reminded me of someone who bears their soul in our fighter meetings and then goes
52:51and does it.
52:52Because a lot of times they're lying to us or they're lying to themselves.
52:56He was so honest when I asked him that question and we were all surprised in there because
53:00we expected a different answer.
53:02And then to go out there and put on the type of performance he put on tonight, to get up
53:07off the canvas and to really make those adjustments.
53:10Because Tim, you were so right about your assessment of what his weakness was.
53:14But then we saw the same strength that he showed against Luis Panterita Neri.
53:20And I think the adjustments he made.
53:22Yep.
53:23And once he went downhill, that was what Joel Diaz feared.
53:27And he knew that and he told me.
53:29Here's the knockdown coming up in round two.
53:31That's the same shot that Neri landed.
53:33That's it.
53:34The same exact punch.
53:35Tim, I want to pause and give you credit for that.
53:38Your lab work pre-ballot was as good as an analyst can be in television.
53:45You literally showed a piece, a clip of film and said, this is what he does wrong and this
53:50can happen to me.
53:51The same.
53:52That is as good a work of a TV analyst as I've ever seen.
53:56Thank you, Tess.
53:57I'm going to let y'all know there's a lot more.
54:00There's a lot more.
54:01However, I got lucky tonight.
54:04I'm not going to lie.
54:05You didn't get lucky.
54:06You didn't get lucky.
54:07And it happened.
54:08And when he turned it on in rounds six, seven, and eight.
54:12And in a way landed 64 of 117 power punches, 55% of his power punches over the last three
54:22rounds.
54:23Over the last three rounds, he landed 64 power punches.
54:27So, we've seen him knock guys out with one single punch.
54:30However, the combinations that he throws with the speed, the power, and the accuracy.
54:37Listening to Cardenas explain that at the end.
54:40It was overwhelming.
54:41He was like, it's too much.
54:42It's too much to deal with.
54:44One thing I'm not quite sure about what Cardenas said.
54:47You know, it wasn't his power.
54:49It was the volume.
54:50Which was like something that you hear from someone who has just fought Lomachenko in his
54:54mind.
54:55However, in those last rounds, you saw him pin his left arm by his side.
55:03And that sucker did not leave.
55:05And it opened him up for the eventual knockout, which is a right hand upstairs because that
55:10hand was like tucked right by his rib cage.