Japan’s Naoya Inoue attends a press conference before his boxing super-bantamweight title fight … More
This Cinco de Mayo weekend is packed with important boxing matches. Closing out the weekend’s matchups is the first appearance in North America since 2021 of one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Naoya Inoue. On Sunday, May 4, Inoue puts his undisputed junior featherweight championship on the line against Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas. Below is a look at the undercard for the Inoue Vs. Cardenas boxing event.
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
Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez
TIJUANA, MEXICO. – FEBRUARY 19: Rafael Espinoza makes his entrance to the fight against Alie Laurel … More
Rafael “El Divino” Espinoza (26-0 with 22 knockouts) was 23-0 when he stepped into the ring against Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023. Espinoza was a +650 bettering underdog to the Ramirez, who brought the WBO featherweight title with him into the ring thaRafael “El Divino” Espinoza (26-0 with 22 knockouts) was 23-0 when he stepped into the ring against Robeisy Ramirez in December 2023. Espinoza was a +650 bettering underdog to Ramirez, who brought the WBO featherweight title with him into the ring that night. The champ was a massive -1687 betting favorite. When the fight ended, Ramirez’s title reign was over, with Espinoza scoring a majority decision win.
Espinoza defended his crown in June 2024 with a fourth-round TKO win over Sergio Chirino Sanchez.
In his most recent outing, Espinoza faced Ramirez in a rematch. The betting odds were much closer for the second go-round, with Ramirez at -138 and Espinoza coming in at -106. The rematch ended six rounds into the fight, with Ramirez raising his hand 12 seconds into that round to wave off the fight. Ramirez had absorbed a right hand to the eye before he stopped fighting and later claimed he could not see out of his right eye.
Espinoza has not fought since his win over Ramirez. He is the No. 2 ranked fighter in the ESPN featherweight rankings.
Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs) was 11-0 before losing a controversial split decision to Raymond Ford in February 2022. He bounced back from his first career setback with four wins. Vasquez then stepped up to junior lightweight to face IBF champ Joe Cordina in November 2023, losing a majority decision to the champ. In his most recent outing, Vazquez downed Kenneth Taylor in four rounds in October 2024.
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+
Rafael Espinoza On Edward Vazquez
“I’m thrilled to return to the ring, especially in the city where I always dreamed of fighting, Las Vegas. Fighting at T-Mobile Arena is also a dream come true, which adds even more excitement for me. Edward Vazquez is a tough fighter who wants to take what’s mine. But I’m prepared to show him that I’m here to stay as a champion. I cannot wait for May 4 to reaffirm that once again.”
Edward Vazquez On Rafael Espinoza
“May 4 can’t get here soon enough. I started boxing at eight years old and have been a pro for over nine years. Nothing has ever been handed to me. I earned this opportunity. Espinoza is a fantastic fighter and a deserving champion, but he has never stepped into the ring with someone like ‘Kid’ Vazquez.”
Bob Arum On Rafael Espinoza Vs. Edward Vazquez
“Rafael Espinoza is a towering featherweight with the power and skills to be a world champion for years to come, and we’re excited to showcase him on such a meaningful weekend for Mexican boxing. Edward Vazquez is a tough, determined challenger who knows this is his shot to change everything. Fans at T-Mobile Arena are in for a treat as Espinoza shares the spotlight with the incomparable Naoya Inoue on this historic Cinco de Mayo card.”
Naoya Inoue Vs. Ramon Cardenas
Japan’s Naoya Inoue celebrates his victory against South Korea’s Kim Ye-joon during their world … 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 boxing 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.
We will have more on the Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas fight card and the Inoue vs. Cardenas undercard as fight night approaches, including odds, picks, predictions and more.
