Japanese pound-for-pound icon Naoya Inoue will defend his undisputed junior featherweight championship against San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas.
Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) is 24-0 in world title fights and has captured undisputed championships in two weight classes, most recently at junior featherweight with knockouts of Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales. He’s also scored stoppage wins over future Hall of Famer Nonito Donaire, Paul Butler, and Luis Nery, whom he knocked out in front of more than 50,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome last May. Since last fighting in the U.S. in 2021, Inoue has emerged as boxing’s most dominant champion.
Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) rides a 14-fight winning streak into his first world title shot, highlighted by a breakout 2024 campaign that included stoppage wins over Israel Rodriguez Picazo and Eduardo Ramirez. Last month, he headlined in his hometown, rallying from a knockdown to outpoint previously unbeaten Bryan Acosta.
In the co-feature, Mexican star Rafael Espinoza will defend his WBO featherweight world title against Edward Vazquez.
Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) burst onto the world stage in December 2023, rallying from a knockdown to upset Robeisy Ramirez and win the WBO featherweight title in what was named ESPN’s Upset of the Year. He defended the belt twice in 2024, including a rematch stoppage of Ramirez in six rounds. Now, Espinoza looks to make his third title defense in a division once dominated by Mexican legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs), a native of Fort Worth, Texas, bounced back from a razor-thin split decision loss to future champion Raymond Ford in 2022 with a string of strong performances. He pushed then-unbeaten junior lightweight titleholder Joe Cordina to the brink in a close majority decision defeat in November 2023, earning respect on the world stage. Vazquez enters the bout riding momentum from back-to-back wins in 2024, including a fourth-round stoppage of Kenneth Taylor.
The action-packed undercard begins at 6:15 p.m. ET/ 3:15 p.m. PT live and exclusively on ESPN+.
ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, Timothy Bradley, Jr., Mark Kriegel, and Bernardo Osuna will call the action.
ESPN.com:
Garcia, Lopez, Canelo and Inoue in the same weekend? Get ready!
An FAQ as a guide to the Times Square card, Canelo Alvarez in Saudi Arabia and Naoya Inoue’s return to the U.S. on the same weekend.
Saturday, May 3:
Why Naoya Inoue is (almost) a perfect fighter
Timothy Bradley Jr. breaks down Inoue’s game in 12 categories, from offense to defense and power and speed, and highlights one thing he could do better.
ESPN Original Series “The Fight Life” chronicles a year in the world of Top Rank Boxing through the journeys of five of the sport’s elite boxers: Tyson Fury, Naoya Inoue, Seniesa Estrada, Teofimo Lopez, and Josh Taylor.
ESPN+: On Demand Shows, Archives & Premium Articles
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- Who Do U Fight 4?– Learn what drivesthe next generation of Top Rank stars.
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- Best of Boxing Spotlight – An archive of the all-time best Top Rank fights.
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Inoue vs. Cardenas (All Times ET)
| Date | Time | Event | Fights | Title (s) | Platform |
| Fri., May 2 | 4 p.m. | Main Card Press Conference | — | — | ESPN+ |
| Sat., May 3 | 4 p.m. | Weigh-in | — | — | |
| Sun., May 4 | 10 p.m. | Main | Naoya Inoue (C) vs. Ramon Cardenas | IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO Jr. Featherweight | ESPN, ESPN Deportes,ESPN+(simulcast) |
| Co-Feature | Rafael Espinoza (C) vs. Edward Vazquez | WBO Featherweight | |||
| 6:15 p.m. | Feature | Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana | ESPN+ | ||
| Undercard | Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Juan Leon | ||||
| Undercard | Mikito Nakano vs. Pedro Marquez | ||||
| Undercard | Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. | ||||
| Undercard | Raeese Aleem vs. Rudy Garcia | ||||
| Swing | Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith |
