Breaking down the stats, records, and matchup details for Inoue vs. Cardenas.
Naoya Inoue will face Ramon Cardenas on Sunday, May 5, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. As the main event, Inoue will defend his undisputed super bantamweight titles (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO, and The Ring) for the fourth time. This marks Inoue’s first fight in the United States since June 2021, as the 2025 Cinco de Mayo weekend boxing slate wraps up.
Anyone who enters the ring with “The Monster” has to be formidable, and that man is Ramon Cardenas, the WBA’s No. 1-ranked contender. He holds a professional record of 26 wins and one loss, the latter coming via majority decision against Danny Flores in April 2017. The bout is one of the most anticipated showdowns of the spring, exciting boxing fans and drawing attention to Inoue’s dominance and Cardenas’ long-awaited title shot.
Naoya Inoue, nicknamed “Kaibutsu,” Japanese for “The Monster,” is a professional boxer known for his crushing punching power and remarkable 89.66% knockout rate, with 26 of his 29 wins coming by stoppage. He currently holds the undisputed super bantamweight crown, a feat he secured by defeating Stephen Fulton in July 2023 and Marlon Tapales in December 2023. Inoue has since defended his titles three times, most recently scoring a knockout victory over Kim Ye-Joon in January 2025.
The Monster is trained by his father, Shingo Inoue, a former amateur boxer who also coached Naoya’s younger brother, Takuma. Born in Zama, Kanagawa, Japan, Inoue first made his mark as an amateur, winning the Japanese Junior National Championships in 2009 and a bronze medal at the 2010 Asian Youth Championships. He built an amateur record of 75 wins and 6 losses, including 48 knockouts. Inoue turned professional in October 2012, winning his debut by knockout over Crison Omayao, and he has been unstoppable ever since.
| 29 Fights | 29 Wins | 0 Losses |
| By Knockout | 26 | 0 |
| By Decision | 3 | 0 |
Ramon Cardenas, having a professional record of 26-1, with 14 wins by knockout, began his career with a stoppage victory over Jonathan Hernandez in July 2015. Nicknamed “Dinamita,” meaning “Dynamite,” he has been trained by renowned coach Joel Diaz for his last three bouts, all of which he won. Most recently, Cardenas defeated Bryan Acosta via unanimous decision and enters this fight as a legitimate top-ten contender.
| 27 Fights | 26 Wins | 1 Loss |
| By Knockout | 14 | 0 |
| By Decision | 12 | 1 |
| Tale of the Tape | Naoya Inoue | Ramon Cardenas |
| Record | 29-0-0 | 26-1-0 |
| Height | 5’5″ (165cm) | 5’5″ (165cm) |
| Weight | 121.8 lbs | 122.0 lbs |
| Reach | 67.5″ (171cm) | – |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| D.O.B. | April 10, 1993 | November 7, 1995 |
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