Japan’s Naoya Inoue celebrates his victory against South Korea’s Kim Ye-joon during their world … More
The 2025 Cinco de Mayo weekend ends with the first American appearance of Naoya Inoue since June 2021. Inoue has fought eight times in Japan since then, winning each of those boxing matches via knockout. On Sunday, Inoue puts his undisputed junior featherweight championship on the line on Sunday, May 4, in Las Vegas when he steps into the ring against Ramon Cardenas. Below, we look at the betting odds, line movement, picks, and predictions for the Inoue vs. Cardenas match.
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Betting Odds And Line Movement
When the betting odds opened for this title fight, Inoue was the -8000 betting favorite over the +1600 Cardenas. Those odds have shifted as fight night nears. Today, Inoue is listed at -10000, while Cardenas is the +1450 betting underdog.
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas
TOPSHOT – Japan’s Naoya Inoue poses for photographs following a press conference ahead of his … More
Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) won his first major title in April 2014 when he knocked out Adrián Hernández to claim the WBC light flyweight title. Since then, the 32-year-old has only stepped into the boxing ring when a title is on the line. He is unbeaten in those title fights, racking up a 24-0 record with 22 knockouts in those title fights.
Over his career, Inoue won and defended the WBO junior bantamweight title seven times before moving to bantamweight for nine bouts. During that run from May 2018 to December 2022, Inoue won the WBA, IBF, and WBC titles. In his final fight at bantamweight, Inoue knocked out Paul Butler to win the WBO bantamweight crown and earn undisputed champion status in the 118-pound division.
In July 2023, Inoue moved up to junior featherweight, claiming the WBC and WBO belts in his first fight in his new weight division. He accomplished that feat by earning an eighth-round TKO over Stephen Fulton. Then, in December 2023, he became the undisputed 122-pound champion with a 10th-round knockout win over Marlon Tapales.
Since his win over Tapales, Inoue has defended his title three more times, defeating Luis Nery, TJ Doheny, and most recently, Kim Ye-joon by knockout.
The man known as “The Monster” is the No. 2 ranked fighter in the ESPN pound-for-pound rankings.
Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) has his work cut out for him on May 3. The 29-year-old steps into the spotlight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas having never competed for a world title.
Cardenas is the No. 9 ranked junior featherweight, according to ESPN. He is riding a 14-fight winning streak heading into the upcoming fight card, with seven of those wins coming by knockout.
In his most recent trip to the ring, Cardenas defeated Bryan Acosta by unanimous decision. The loss was the first of Acosta’s professional career.
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Tale Of The Tape
Naoya Inoue
Record: 29-0 with 26 knockouts
Age: 32
Height: 5’5″
Reach: 68.1″
Stance: Orthodox
Ramon Cardenas
Record: 26-1 with 14 knockouts
Age: 29
Height: 5’6″
Reach: NA
Stance: Orthodox
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Breakdown
Japan’s Naoya Inoue (R) fights against South Korea’s Kim Ye-joon during their world … More
Cardenas is the mandatory challenger for Inoue, so he has earned his shot at the champion and the payday that comes with that fight. He is a good boxer, buy he isn’t a great boxer and right now it’s going to take someone who is great to stop Inoue’s run.
Cardenas is likely to have some moments early in this matchup, but Inoue will quickly show that his power and speed are what separate him from every other competitor in the lower weight divisions.
The one thing to watch for in Inoue is his age. He is 32 and history has told us that fighters in the lower weights tend to start to fade after 30. Inoue has not shown anything that would make one believe that this will bet the fight where he gets old, but that’s always something to consider.
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Prediction And Pick
The betting pick is that Naoya Inoue will continue his run of winning fights via knockout.
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Main Event
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas for Inoue’s undisputed junior featherweight championship
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Undercard
Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez for Espinoza’s WBO featherweight title
Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana for Polanco’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Title
Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Juan Leon for the vacant Jr. NABF Junior Welterweight Title
Mikito Nakano vs. Pedro Marquez: Featherweight
Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr: Junior middleweight
Raeese Aleem vs. Rudy Garcia: Featherweight
Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith: Cruiserweight
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Fight Card Date:
Sunday, May 4
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Fight Card Time:
6:15 p.m. ET
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Fight Card Location:
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas Fight Card How To Watch Or Stream
ESPN+
There are reports that Inoue’s next fight has already been booked.
We will have more on the Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas fight card as fight night approaches.