Inoue Overcomes Knockdown To Retain Undisputed Crown

Japan's Naoya Inoue climbed disconnected nan canvas to clasp his position arsenic undisputed super-bantamweight world champion pinch an eighth-round stoppage of American Ramon Cardenas successful Las Vegas.

After being knocked down for conscionable nan 2nd clip successful his career, successful nan 2nd round, Inoue recovered and unleashed a barrage of punches astatine nan commencement of nan eighth earlier referee Thomas Taylor stepped successful to extremity nan fight.

Inoue's grounds now stands astatine 30-0 arsenic he marked his first conflict extracurricular Japan since 2021 pinch his 27th knockout victory.

"Everybody is alert I for illustration to brawl," Inoue said.

There was daze precocious successful nan 2nd information erstwhile Inoue was dropped by a near hook from overwhelming underdog Cardenas but he picked himself up, made it to nan doorbell and composed himself.

"I was very amazed but I was capable to calmly propulsion myself together," Inoue added done a translator.

"In nan first information I thought I had beautiful bully region but successful nan 2nd information it benignant of sewage a small loose. From thereafter I made judge I didn't return that punch again."

Inoue went connected nan onslaught but Cardenas refused to backmost down down and nan brace slugged it retired successful a bruising 4th round.

Eventually, Inoue's powerfulness proved excessively overmuch and a sadistic changeable to nan assemblage wounded Cardenas earlier 4 correct hands to nan caput earned nan champion a knockdown astatine nan extremity of information seven.

He went successful to decorativeness nan occupation astatine nan commencement of nan eighth and sent Cardenas staggering into nan ropes pinch different punishing correct earlier nan referee stepped in.

On nan undercard, Mexico's unbeaten Rafael Espinosa improved to 27-0 pinch a seventh-round stoppage of American Edward Vazquez.

"I cognize a conflict against Naoya Inoue would catapult maine into stardom," said Espinosa aft defending his WBO title successful nan somewhat heavier featherweight division.