LOS ANGELES (April 23, 2025) — Boxing’s pound-for-pound monster has arrived on U.S. soil.
Just after touching down at LAX, Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) worked out for the media in Los Angeles, 11 days away from his undisputed junior featherweight title defense against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) on Sunday, May 4, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
This is Inoue’s first stateside appearance in nearly four years, and he returns as a two-weight undisputed champion and global superstar. Inoue faced off with Cardenas and then went through the paces in the ring and on the heavy bag. He displayed flashes of the bone-crunching power that’s led him to knock out his last 10 foes.
Cardenas and junior welterweight prospect Emiliano Fernando Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) also participated in the workout. Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs), the son of former world champion Fernando Vargas, will see action on the bill in an eight-rounder against Spain’s Juan Leon (11-2-1, 2 KOs).
This is some of what Inoue had to say in front of the assembled media.
“It took me four years to come back {to America}, but I’d like to return sooner than later.”
“There is a great turnout of media today, and I’m very pleased. I know that the expectations are there, and I want to answer those expectations.”
“My father watched Barrera, Morales, and Marquez, so those are some of the Mexican fighters I’m fond of.”
“Cardenas is a beautiful fighter. He’s an all-around good fighter, but for me, it’s easy. No matter how he comes out, I think I have the advantage.”
Inoue-Cardenas and the WBO featherweight world title showdown between Mexico’s reigning champion Rafael Espinoza and Texas native Edward Vazquez will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Vargas-Leon and the rest of the undercard will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Ohashi Promotion, Teiken Promotions, and Sampson Boxing, tickets are on sale now via AXS.com.