The boxing world turns its attention to Las Vegas this weekend as undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue prepares to defend his titles against Ramon Cardenas at the T-Mobile Arena on Sunday, May 4th. The matchup pits the seemingly unstoppable Japanese champion against the WBA's top contender in what bookmakers view as a severely lopsided contest.
Inoue enters the ring with an impeccable professional record of 29-0 with an astonishing 26 knockouts, giving him a knockout percentage approaching 90%. At 32 years old, the champion has shown no signs of slowing down, having finished all of his previous Super Bantamweight bouts by either knockout or technical knockout.
The odds reflect Inoue's dominance, with the champion installed as a -5000 favorite, translating to an overwhelming 98% implied probability of victory. These numbers underscore the monumental challenge facing Cardenas, despite his own impressive 26-1 record with 14 knockouts.
Cardenas, ranked as the #9 Super Bantamweight by The Ring magazine, brings legitimate skills to the contest. The Texan contender possesses solid body shots, effective jabs, and his cross and uppercut are highly regarded within the division. To have any chance at creating what would be a seismic upset, Cardenas will need to leverage his speed and defensive abilities while avoiding Inoue's devastating power.
Analysts at Statbet have examined the fighting styles of both competitors and note that while Inoue occasionally leaves himself vulnerable when changing angles, Cardenas may lack the punching power needed to capitalize on these brief openings.
Beyond the straight winner market, various prop bets offer intriguing options for this contest. The most compelling may be Inoue securing a knockout between rounds 4-6, or the champion scoring three or more knockdowns during the fight.
This championship bout represents more than just another title defense for Inoue, who reportedly plans to fight twice more this year with potential future contests in the United States. There's also speculation about the champion potentially moving up to conquer a fifth weight division at 126 pounds.
Fans worldwide can watch the action live on ESPN+, Disney+, and Sky Sports, with the main card beginning at approximately 10:00 PM Eastern Time on Sunday night.
