Shock and Awakening of the “Monster” in the Holy Land of Las Vegas

Las Vegas — the holy land of boxing. Under the bright lights of the T-Mobile Arena, one man stood in the ring: Naoya “The Monster” Inoue, the undisputed world super bantamweight champion. Returning to this grand stage for the first time in four years, he entered the ring to reaffirm his dominance before a global audience.
On May 4, 2025 (May 5, Japan time), Inoue faced Ramon Cardenas, the WBA’s No. 1 contender. This was more than a title defense — it was a moment for Inoue to once again prove his supremacy in the home of world boxing. Yet what the 8,474 spectators witnessed that night was not the one-sided spectacle many anticipated, but a fierce drama that tested the very soul of a champion.

From the opening bell, Inoue looked composed, measuring distance with his usual precision. But with just 15 seconds left in Round 2, the arena froze in collective shock — Cardenas landed a perfectly timed overhand left hook counter squarely on Inoue’s face.
The champion was knocked down — only the second time in his career. The scene recalled the nightmare of May 2024, when Inoue was floored by a left hook from Luis Nery. Yet there was no panic in the champion’s eyes. Kneeling on one knee, he waited calmly, listening to the referee’s count to seven — using every second to recover — before signaling to his corner that he was fine. It was a display of supreme composure and psychological maturity, honed through experience. After the fight, Inoue said, “I was surprised by the knockdown, but I regained my calm quickly.” His words perfectly captured the iron will he displayed in that moment.

Ironically, this unexpected knockdown deepened the legend of Naoya Inoue. Had the bout ended in a routine knockout, it might have been remembered as just another win. But the sight of a heavy underdog flooring the champion transformed the match into a Fight of the Year contender. Overcoming adversity and reclaiming victory with overwhelming force — that is what elevates a fighter from greatness to immortality. That brief fall was not a blemish, but a defining moment — proof of Inoue’s indomitable spirit, the true “soul of a champion.”

The Calm Counteroffensive: The Monster’s Display of Poise and Mastery

Having survived the knockdown, Inoue shifted gears from Round 3 onward. What followed was not a reckless brawl, but a calculated and methodical counterattack. Focusing his assault on Cardenas’s body, Inoue unleashed a barrage of punishing hooks to the midsection — one of boxing’s most timeless and effective tactics. It drains stamina, lowers the guard, and sets up the finishing blow. This meticulous execution showcased not just his power, but his extraordinary boxing IQ and adaptability.

The fight’s drama was heightened by Cardenas’s remarkable toughness and courage. Initially seen as a mere stepping stone, the challenger fought with unwavering determination. Even after scoring the knockdown, he continued to trade blows fearlessly, standing toe-to-toe with the world’s most feared puncher. His valor intensified the bout’s tension, drawing the crowd into a frenzy. Afterward, Inoue himself admitted, “I could feel he was fighting for his life — he was two or three times stronger than I expected.”
It was the perfect duel: a brave challenger bringing out the best in a great champion.

By the middle rounds, Inoue’s relentless body attacks began to take their toll. In Round 7, sensing Cardenas’s fatigue, the champion pounced — a devastating right straight sent the challenger collapsing to the canvas. Though the bell saved him, it was clear his resistance was nearly gone. Early in Round 8, Inoue unleashed a ferocious assault, pinning Cardenas in the corner with a storm of punches. The referee had no choice but to step in — a TKO victory at just 45 seconds into the round.

It was the complete performance of a champion: poised under pressure, strategic in approach, and ruthless in execution. By turning adversity into dominance, Inoue reaffirmed his position among the pound-for-pound best in the world.

A Feat 77 Years in the Making: A New Milestone in Boxing History

This victory was far more than another title defense — it was a record-breaking moment in boxing history. By stopping Cardenas, Inoue earned his 23rd career KO win in world title fights, surpassing the legendary Joe Louis’s record of 22, a mark that had stood unbroken for 77 years.
That a Japanese boxer in a lighter division eclipsed the heavyweight icon known as “The Brown Bomber,” who made 25 successful defenses, symbolizes not just the global reach of modern boxing but also a recognition that greatness transcends weight class.

Some databases, such as BoxRec, list one of Louis’s 1951 bouts as a title fight, which would technically keep him tied with Inoue at 23 KOs. Even so, by the most widely accepted count, Inoue now stands alone at the top. The achievement bridges generations, cultures, and divisions — cementing Naoya Inoue’s name as an immortal figure in boxing history.

This triumph also brought Inoue to the brink of another legendary milestone: his 25th consecutive world title victory, just one short of the all-time record of 26 held jointly by Joe Louis and Floyd Mayweather Jr. One more win would place him among boxing’s eternal giants. These records reflect not only his power, but his unparalleled consistency and longevity — spanning more than a decade and four divisions, from light flyweight to super bantamweight.
In an era where top fighters often move up in weight seeking tougher challenges, Inoue has mastered that modern path, conquering every mountain in front of him. The Cardenas fight thus became another milestone on his ascent to boxing’s pantheon.

The Monster’s Next Target: Toward a Fifth Division World Title

For the “Monster,” there is no rest. His next battle — and perhaps his toughest yet — is already set. Following the Cardenas victory, Inoue will defend his title against Murodjon Akhmadaliev, the WBA’s mandatory challenger, on September 14, 2025, in Nagoya, Japan.

The Uzbek southpaw is a former unified WBA and IBF world champion and an Olympic bronze and world silver medalist — a highly skilled and powerful opponent. Known as “MJ,” Akhmadaliev combines technical finesse with knockout power, making him arguably the most dangerous threat in the division.

Even Inoue himself has acknowledged him as “the best opponent of my career,” a rare admission from the normally stoic champion. Having been floored twice in consecutive fights — both by left-hand counters — Inoue now faces a southpaw whose left punch is his deadliest weapon. How he adapts and overcomes this challenge will be watched closely by fans around the world.

Beyond the super bantamweight division, an even greater ambition looms: a fifth world title in featherweight. Inoue has hinted that featherweight may be his physical limit — yet names like Rafael Espinoza (WBO champion) and Nick Ball (WBA champion) are already being discussed as potential opponents.
His team, led by promoter Hideyuki Ohashi, is carefully weighing the timing, knowing that moving up in weight is a one-way road. Still, for a fighter whose career has been defined by relentless pursuit of greatness, the march will not stop.

Having unified the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions and defeated every major contender, Inoue’s career has become a masterclass in legacy building. The shocking knockdown against Cardenas — and his dramatic resurgence thereafter — added a powerful new chapter to that legacy. It was the sound of a bell not closing a story, but heralding the next: the tale of a “Monster” still hungry for new worlds to conquer, his legend far from its final act.