Naoya Inoue defended his undisputed super bantamweight title at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but had to get off the deck before stopping Ramon Cardenas in the eighth round of their meeting in Sin City on Sunday.
Pound-for-pound superstar Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) had already defended the undisputed championship three times, the last a simple fourth round knockout of Ye Joon Kim in January. Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs) would be the next to try his luck, but had never been the world championship distance.
Inoue started off on the back of a solid jab, which landed at several points in the first round, but nothing could have prepared him for a round later, as Cardenas stunned the crowd and the boxing world as a huge counter left hook dropped the champion heavily.
The Japanese star, who was floored against Luis Nery last May, slowly got back to his feet, but was hurt, and made it to the bell.
Cardenas’ confidence was high, and his left found a home in the third, but the champion wrestled back control in round four, letting his hands go for some usual eye-catching combinations to land.
After a decent fifth, the ‘Monster’ began to turn the screw, and he teed off on the challenger in round six, with Cardenas under some heavy fire.
The Texan couldn’t withstand the pressure, and that told a round later as Inoue connected with some big right hands that floored his foe.
The 29-year-old gamely saw out the round but Inoue smelt blood, and the end came in the very next frame. A body shot and right hand troubled Cardenas, and Inoue went to work, and with several punches going unanswered, and Cardenas trapped in the corner, the referee decided to call an end to the action.
Inoue is likely to return against former unified champion, MJ Akhmadaliev in September.
Espinoza halts Vazquez
On the undercard, Rafael Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) retained his WBO featherweight world title, as he stopped Edward Vazquez (17-3, 4 KOs) in the seventh round of their bout.
It was a superb performance from the champion, and after unloading with several uppercuts, and then a two-fisted assault, the fight was waved off.
Remaining Undercard
Rohan Polanco took the WBO Intercontinental welterweight title, as he widely outpointed Fabian Andres Maidana.
Polanco (16-0, 10 KOs) decked Maidana (24-4, 18 KOs) in the final round, and won by three scores of 100-89.
Mikito Nakano (13-0, 12 KOs) dominated against Pedro Marquez Medina (16-2, 10 KOs), who was down five times before being halted in the fourth round of a featherweight contest set for ten.
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Also at featherweight, Ra’eese Aleem (22-1, 12 KOs) recorded a points win over ten against Rudy Garcia (13-2-1, 2 KOs), winning by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 97-93.
Emilano Vargas (14-0, 12 KOs) took the vacant NABF Junior super lightweight title, as he stopped Juan Leon (11-3-1, 2 KOs) in two rounds.
Art Barrera Jr (9-0, 7 KOs) remained unbeaten, stopping Juan Carlos Guerra Jr (6-2-1, 2 KOs) in the sixth and final round at super welterweight.
