Naoya Inoue retained his undisputed super bantamweight championship, but not without facing a significant challenge.
In Sunday`s defense against Ramon Cardenas, who came close to a major upset, Inoue was dropped by a well-timed left hook in the second round. This sent `The Monster` to the canvas, a rare occurrence, only the second time in his pro career.
Inoue recovered quickly, beating the count just before the round concluded, which gave him time to regain his composure in the corner. He then dramatically turned the tide, dominating the fight with his effective jab and sustained body attacks. Cardenas displayed courage, resisting as long as possible, but Inoue scored a knockdown in the seventh round, and his relentless offensive onslaught in the eighth round led the referee to stop the contest.
This victory solidifies Inoue`s position among the world`s elite pound-for-pound boxers, improving his professional record to an impressive 30 wins, including 27 by knockout, with zero losses.
Marcus Blakely