A Monster Arrival! Naoya Inoue & Ramon Cardenas Make Vegas Splash Ahead of Sunday's Undisputed Junior Featherweight Showdown
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 02 May 2025
Inoue-Cardenas and Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
LAS VEGAS (May 1, 2025) — For the first time in nearly four years, boxing's pound-for-pound monster touched down in America for a fight week.
Japanese icon Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) and San Antonio's Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) made their grand arrivals today in Las Vegas ahead of their showdown this Sunday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena.
Inoue will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship in his first U.S. appearance since 2021. Cardenas will bid for his first world title and look to author a Texas-sized upset.
In the co-feature, Mexico's Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Texas-born former world 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 Dominican welterweight contender Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs), who takes on hard-hitting Argentine Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Additionally, Mexican American star Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) will lock horns with Spain's Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-rounder at junior welterweight.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.
At Thursday's grand arrivals, this is what the fighters said:
Naoya Inoue
“It’s been four years since I’ve been here, so I’m very excited.”
“I am very much aware of what the fans expect of me. And on Cinco De Mayo Weekend, I plan on meeting those expectations.”
“{Cardenas} is a very well-rounded fighter. With that being said, he has a very good left. I don’t have time to be cautious.”
Ramon Cardenas
“I’m excited to be here. I’m blessed to be a part of this weekend because we know it’s a historic week in boxing. And to be here, seeing my name on these billboards, is a blessing.”
“It means a lot to represent Mexico during this weekend because we’ve had legends and warriors fight on this weekend. I’m going to give my all.”
“This is a dream come true for me. I have to finish completing this dream. I’ve lost an uncle on this journey. I’ve lost a trainer on this journey. So, to be able to accomplish my dream of becoming a world champion is my goal.”
“I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I have no pressure on me, so I’m going to go out there and give the fans a great show.”
"I'm not here for the money. I'm here for the legacy. If I become a world champion, nobody can take that away from me."
Rafael Espinoza
“I feel butterflies in my stomach! I’m happy because these are the dates I’ve always wanted to fight on. This is the place I’ve always wanted to fight at. So, it’s a dream come true, and it fills me with motivation. And I also have a strong desire to steal the show that night.”
“I consider myself to be a fighter who should be using my distance. But I like to fight on the inside. I know it’s one of my advantages. I’m tall, but exchanging punches is what has worked for me, and I feel that my conditioning has made me strong, so I try to take advantage of that.”
“He’s Mexican like me. He likes to come forward. So, his style will mesh well with mine because we’re both going to come forward. It’s going to be a great fight. I’m sure. I want to demonstrate that I’m ready for big things.”
Edward Vazquez
“I feel blessed to be here. The emotions are there, but I have to stay focused. I have to stay locked in. I’m trying to stay locked in and not let all of this get to me. I’m taking it moment by moment.”
“In the past, I’ve felt like I’ve only come short by a few points in fights. But Sunday night will be my opportunity to score a big point. That’s what’s on my mind.”
“You can expect all action. We’re going to leave it all out there. We’re going to give the fans a good show.”
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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