- 7/2/2025
Naoya Inoue Vs Ramon Cardenas
Junior Featherweight Championship
May 5, 2025
#boxing #fullboxingreplays #boxingreplays #ufc #ufcreplays #ufcfullreplays
Junior Featherweight Championship
May 5, 2025
#boxing #fullboxingreplays #boxingreplays #ufc #ufcreplays #ufcfullreplays
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00Spectacular night here in Las
00:03Vegas and a great reception for
00:07now in a way all week long it
00:10has been nearly four years since
00:13the monster has returned to the
00:14states and he does so as one of
00:17the greats of all time as a
00:19four division world champion as
00:20an undisputed world champion in
00:23two weight classes and now
00:25Ramon Cardenas takes on that
00:28challenge the san antonio based
00:30veteran who is stepping up to 12
00:33round status for the first time
00:36ranked in the top 10 of three of
00:38the organizations
00:58coming in now Ramon Cardenas makes
01:05his way to the Harris friends and
01:16one of the players wereTake 1 and
01:18the their memoryASSANTS is the
01:20game больш minus the game of the
01:23Cleveland players that show the
01:24Ramon Cardenas makes his way to the ring for the biggest moment of his
01:31professional career at 29 years old. Mark Kregel detailed the story of his
01:39inspiration of what he's fighting for his original trainer having passed away
01:44the man who taught him the fight game he wants to return home to Texas with all
01:50four of these belts and lay them on his gravestone
02:02a massive underdog taking on a massive challenge
02:20.
02:32.
02:34.
02:39.
02:41.
02:44.
02:46now you're in a way first one the light flyweight title in just his sixth his
03:03sixth pro fight back in 2014 he was only 20 years old he made one defense
03:11and moved up he won a junior bantamweight world championship in his eighth fight he
03:20made seven defenses then the sky was the limit for a bantamweight title his third
03:26division conquered he went on to great fame to awards to global success to the
03:36pound-for-pound list and now a four division world champion undisputed in
03:43two divisions the pound-for-pound great the monster here to defend all his belts
03:52on a sunday night in vegas
04:01for the official introduction here's jimmy lennon jr
04:15ladies and gentlemen we welcome you to the main event of the evening
04:21y a todos nuestros amigos celebrando el cinco de mayo bienvenidos aficionados al box
04:29nippon no boxing fan no minasama konbanwa
04:36indeed we welcome you ladies and gentlemen to the t-mobile arena here in las vegas
04:40nevada as bob baron's top rake incorporated presents the featured bout of the evening in
04:47association with ohashi promotion and taken promotions brought to you by miller light
04:54here cheers to another round of miller time and by drafting sportsbook the crown is yours
05:01presented by the refreshing taste of twisted tea hard ice tea keep it twisted sponsored by el mexicano brand products bringing authentic sabor to your table somos el mexicano and by undisputed the boxing video game out now on ps5 xbox and pc and also brought to you by riyadh season and the t-mobile arena
05:08introducing our three judges scoring a main event from ringside from new york max deluca
05:15from oklahoma david sutherland from oklahoma david sutherland and from new jersey steve weisfeld
05:22and introducing our three judges scoring a main event from ringside from new york max deluca
05:24from oklahoma david sutherland and from new jersey steve weisfeld
05:30and introducing to you our third man to the ring the referee in charge of the action
05:37thomas taylor
05:42all right fans here we go
05:46twelve rounds of boxing for the wba wbo
05:51ibs
05:53and wbc undisputed 122 pound championship of the world
06:06and now ladies and gentlemen in attendance and boxing fans joining us around the world
06:12live from las vegas
06:16it's time for the main event of the evening
06:23introducing to you first the challenger on my left fighting out of the blue corner
06:32presented in association with pro box and samson boxing
06:36wearing black trunks with silver trim fighting out of the beautiful city of san antonio texas
06:43by way of his heritage of monterrey nuevo leon mexico
06:49he weighed in at 121.8 pounds
06:52with a record of 26 wins and one defeat
06:55he has 14 wins coming by way of knockout
06:59tonight he is making his first attempt at a world title
07:02ladies and gentlemen
07:04please welcome the battle ready challenger and world rank contender
07:08introducing
07:10ramon
07:11dinamita
07:14cardenas
07:17and his opponent across the ring the defending world champion really needing no introduction the world over
07:27fighting out of the red corner wearing white trunks with grey trim
07:32hailing from zama kanagawa japan
07:36he weighed in at 121.9 pounds
07:41he is undefeated in his campaign 29 wins no losses
07:4526 wins coming by way of knockout
07:49here is boxing superstar and pound for pound great
07:53the acclaimed four division world champion
07:56ladies and gentlemen
07:58please welcome
07:59the undefeated
08:00reigning and defending
08:02undisputed
08:04junior featherweight champion of the world
08:07introducing
08:08naoya
08:10the monster
08:11inoue
08:12once again the referee in charge is thomas taylor now to give instruction
08:25thomas taylor his 34th world title fight
08:29come on this side
08:31come on this side
08:33all right let coach know over here everything from the grey letters up is going to be good
08:37everything from the white letters up here is going to be good all right
08:41gentlemen you got my instructions in the back
08:43protect yourselves at all times listen to my commands touch them up
08:46back to your corner gentlemen
08:48joe tessitore and tim bradley on the call with you ringside for the undisputed
08:52junior featherweight championship of the world timmy we were watching closely the eyes of both men
08:58but specifically ramon cardinus his first world title fight what did you see
09:04ready timid no doubt about it however i mean test the first thing cardinus has to do is he has to feel like he belonged in the ring exactly that's what that's the first thing and he has to feel that he believes that he can win what does that translate to in the ring
09:20what does he have to do in the ring to gain that confidence that he should be on this stage against this monster well he gotta land he gotta land some offense against in a way he has to feel that hey i have the boxing skills to be able to compete with them it's gonna all be done by success test how much success he has in his first few rounds
09:42in a way measure with the jab tripling it up goes on the attack with a three punch combination yeah a nice high tie guard from cardinus by the way the jab for in a way timmy
09:56seven point six per round that's number three among all elite championship level fighters
10:06he understands the sweet science one and he understands the game that hey once i get if i get my jab working everything else is gonna fall in line
10:14the power shots he's able to set up off that jab
10:18that's just boxing one-on-one test beautiful one-two right there nice jab splitting the guard of in a way good timing right now from
10:28cardinus that's what he's going out a jab of his own he's gonna have to depend on timing nice works to the inside
10:34and that's in a way didn't throw the right hand behind it no but the jab right now is finding his way home good timing again
10:40from finding this beating in a way to the punch a lot quicker than in a way probably thought or imagined thus far from
10:48cardinus with that jab of course when it comes to speed generating power there are a few like naoya in a way
10:58from jab steady work in this first round with it from the monster
11:02good counter attempt right there from finding this
11:12blocked by the right hand of in a way yes it was however i still like the approach
11:16hey listen throw it
11:22he's looking for that counter he's looking for in a way he's trying to time him on his way in
11:26he's looking to throw a left hook over the top of the right hand of in a way
11:36very consistent here this final minute with that lead hand popping that jab time and again
11:46first world title challenge in the career of san antonio's ramon cardinus
11:50can hear his corner saying watch that distance
11:58as they come to the end of round number one the monster is back in the states the undisputed
12:04junior featherweight world championship fight we're going to take a short break and be back live in vegas
12:18so far
12:25when you see that fucking one two eight stay low with a good defense up here okay
12:30hey jay
12:31next round next round i take the water
12:33okay
12:39part of the day
12:42by the show to me
12:44and when he comes to the end of round number one two
12:46hey fucking shoot that look body or head i don't give a fuck where okay okay okay let me ask you
12:51okay okay let me ask you
12:56let me ask you
12:57i want you to go
12:58i want you to go
12:59and i want you to go
13:01let's go guys anyway two ramon two number two
13:10it is 12 14 p.m monday afternoon in tokyo where the country sits back and watches this action
13:21in prime time here in vegas where naoya inouye the undisputed champion through 30 jabs in that
13:26first round here's the right hand yeah that's a vertical jab with the thumb faced up towards
13:30the ceiling coming behind blinding him with that jab and coming right with that right hand
13:35you're going to see more of that moving forward however in a way right now again the problem right
13:41now that carnet is making is he's standing right in front of in a way you know he got to make in a
13:45way pick up his feet a little bit like that support coming exactly get away covers up defensively
13:52exactly but it's going to cover up you got to let the hands go and he at least did exactly so that's
13:59two things two things test you got to think about when you before you get in mid-range or your
14:03opposition actually getting to mid-range before you either you're going to punch or you better have
14:09something in your back pocket meaning defense to offense and right now carnet is just sitting right
14:15there in front not doing much on the offensive side and that is a recipe for disaster goes to
14:21the body with the right hand backs it up with the left hand does cardness
14:25and away comes back trying to sweep that right hand to the body and he goes to a combination that
14:45finishes with the left hand upstairs
14:50carnet is at the high he's a high guard he's staying tight with his guard as well
14:55see a little little blood right there coming from the nose of any way
15:00not sure where that blood is coming from
15:04just off the mark with that right hand carnet is in a way just turned away from that full right hand from cardness
15:12the upset-seeking american
15:15top of the head
15:16see carnet is now he's making in a way trying to pick up his feet and starting to bring that pressure
15:25starting to bring that pressure towards in a way
15:27you talked about how do you gain confidence this is how you gain confidence
15:31absolutely
15:32but here comes in a way in a way likes this type of fight test
15:36he does
15:37we don't like the right hand a little bit of blood coming from the nose you're right timmy
15:40he don't like to be pushed back
15:42not at all but cardiness i think he found a little secret
15:45in a way he's great at mid-range great on the outside as well but inside
15:51does he have the skill to compete against carnet
15:54carton's trying to turn over that sweeping left foot there's anyway with him against the
15:58oh no
15:58there it is
16:00the monsters now
16:01cardiness catches him
16:03my oh my
16:04yep
16:05what a shocker here in round two
16:07come here
16:08let's go
16:10can you believe what you just saw
16:15yep
16:16there are books in the desert that has him as a hundred to one underdogs
16:21and he just put in a way down
16:24and he just put in a way down
16:28yeah
16:30baby
16:31baby
16:32baby
16:33yeah
16:34yeah
16:35yeah
16:36yeah
16:37second round
16:38cover cover cover cover cover
16:39okay
16:40short
16:41short
16:42inside inside
16:43cut yourself
16:44okay
16:51okay
16:52he's going to throw him with a
16:53as soon as you see a body shot
16:55throw punches
16:56he's coming with a lot of power
16:58anyway right now
17:00had cardiness along the ropes putting the combinations together however left himself exposed
17:05dropped that right hand
17:06guess what cardiness took a little small little angle
17:09change his position anyway followed him out
17:12didn't see that left hook coming
17:14boom
17:15set him down
17:16annaway has been down two times in his career
17:19it happened in the first round against lewis nary
17:21it happened
17:22you know the thriller against donair when he was cut over the right eye
17:25how does he react
17:27comes out on the attack
17:34yep
17:36a knockdown scored
17:38in round two
17:40by cardinus
17:41yep card
17:42the san antonio based
17:43upset seeking
17:44ramon cardinus
17:46stay right here
17:47stay right here
17:48let's see
17:49alright we got an action on the headbutt
17:50no cut
17:51come here
17:52guys
17:53stop stop
17:54close hands
17:55alright
17:56go
17:57no cut on the accidental clash
17:58it's a sweeping right hand
18:00from the monster
18:02the monster needs to be defensively responsible after he punches
18:07cardiness right now what he's doing he's waiting on a mistake
18:10he's waiting on in a way to get greedy
18:13and he knows that opposite hand
18:15that catch and shoot is available for him
18:17he's looking for that hold
18:19i'm telling you
18:20tim i give you credit for what you broke down just before this main event in your lab segment
18:25when you talked about that opposite hand
18:28when you talked about it being down
18:30boy he went for it there
18:31i'm looking at time and sweep that left hook again
18:34and it's in a way probes with the jab
18:37moves to the body showing levels now
18:40and cardinus comes forward inching ahead
18:49knockdown scored in round two by cardinus
18:54and cardinus staying real tight
18:56behind that defense as well
18:59in a way he's having a hard time really penetrating that
19:02that high guard he really is
19:04it's tight
19:05three punch combination
19:06tried to split the guard with the right hand
19:07came back with the left to finish
19:09right hand to the body
19:10caught a little bit of the flank
19:11and a little bit of the elbow
19:24yep anytime
19:27and then another thing that cardinus is doing is
19:29is anytime he sees
19:30oh oh oh oh oh i'm telling you
19:32i told you he knows how to punch in between
19:34but anytime he sees anyway go and he's at the high guard
19:37It's a problem a little bit with the left hand again that's another issue doubles up the right hand
19:50Right hand from the monster, Inouye comes forward on the attack
19:57He is sitting on that left hand with that hook all night long
20:01He has come to make magic and try to shock the world as Inouye
20:06Willing down to the inside. Oh my
20:09Man, we're gonna take a short break when we come back. We'll show you the knockdown again. Oh
20:15What do we have here in Vegas tonight?
20:23She's just you're gonna shoot just you're gonna get on young media
20:32It's just a little swelling
20:34I'm not kidding
20:36I'm not kidding
20:37Hey, you can break them down if you just put pressure on them in water, okay?
20:42I'm on it. Yeah, put you a gun that show and walk them down, but when you're inside go to the body and then up because
20:48Body in not because I need you start touching the body a little bit
20:50No good that you're still going to say now
20:52Let's go
20:54Let's go back to Tim Bradley's lab that he showed all of us pre-fight. This is what Timmy was explaining the floor defensively with
20:59No yet in a way and it showed up in the second round Tim you explain this pre-match
21:04You see any resemblance right there same exact exact shot right there level on the inside
21:14The undisputed champion was four in the second round the upset seeking Ramon Cardenas who at the beginning of this fight in a way was a minus
21:21Sixty five hundred favorite minus sixty five hundred the current odds on ESPN bet he's minus four hundred
21:28Bernardo I just spoke with a couple of guys
21:30You see any resemblance right there same exact exact shot right there level on the inside
21:34The undisputed champion was four in the second round the upset seeking Ramon Cardenas who at the beginning of this fight
21:40He's a hundred favorite minus sixty five hundred the current odds on ESPN bet he's minus four hundred
21:47Bernardo I just spoke with Joel Diaz and he says look I asked Ramon to pressure more and dig to the body and he told me coach
21:57He doesn't crack and I said yes, he does crack just stay confident, but don't make mistakes
22:03He said he doesn't crack and that's the first indication right there
22:09First indication right there again. He's mentally in this fight test. That's what I'm talking about
22:14He's mentally believes that he can take in a way shot
22:17So he's here to endure whatever it takes to be able to get off his office test
22:22I'm telling you he's looking for that counter test
22:26That last round and he was just a little bit off the mark if in a way slows down a bit and get laxed on his defense
22:32It's gonna be night night test
22:34Timmy before this fight I turn you and said just answer this question real simple
22:39We got a minus sixty five hundred favorite in a pound-for-pound elite
22:44Does Cardenas have a puncher's chance? You didn't even hesitate. You said yes and a little more
22:49He has what you know what he has again
22:56IQ
22:57He's a well-rounded fighter, but he has dynamite in both hands. He has good timing
23:02I saw that on film great timing and he knows how to punch in between shots
23:06And with what happened in the second round when he floored Inouye
23:12He just keeps bubbling up with confidence
23:15To score punches like that Inouye though timing it now Inouye on the attack with a combination
23:26Inouye is trying to again penetrate that defense
23:28Doubles up the left hand upstairs and then downstairs to the body
23:31It's beautiful work by Inouye no doubt about it, but he got it gotta be responsible defensively
23:38Has to be
23:40Oh
23:42He caught him
23:43Wide sweeping and he made him pay and now he goes to the body then goes upstairs back to the body and Cardenas fires with return
23:50Good right hand from Inouye
23:52And now the accuracy is showing up and the desire to have fights like this
24:01Big round for Inouye
24:04Oh, he's turning it on
24:07Cardenas is covering up and the monster is showing what he's about
24:11You'll be able to see the corners while we take this commercial break
24:22It's a great fight
24:23O'er
24:24O'er
24:25.
24:26B'fuck
24:27.
24:28.
24:29.
24:30.
24:33.
24:34ch
24:53Also, try not to miss because if you go through, he'll catch you.
25:00That could be a mistake.
25:02He can catch you on the way up with a bad punch.
25:05Okay?
25:06Hey!
25:07Why aren't you fucking doing this, this, this?
25:10Why are you staying there?
25:12It's fucking bad.
25:23When we were preparing all week to call this fight, there were moments where I didn't
25:33think I'd be tossing it over to Mark Griegel to even get a scorecard at the end of four.
25:38Mark, how do you have it?
25:3938, 37, Ramon Cardenas.
25:44One thing that Inouye told me this week was what he learned from the nary knockdown.
25:50No doubt Cardenas believes in himself, but that knockdown taught Inouye something.
25:55Knockdown tonight happened in the second round.
25:59Inouye now is totally aware of what Cardenas is using.
26:02He understands that he's punching right after he's punching and punching with him with the
26:07left hook, so what he's doing is now he's just pulling.
26:10He's like, okay, I'm going to get my offense off, but I know you're going to shoot right
26:14afterwards, so I'm going to pull my body back out of range and then I'm going to come back
26:18with some offense.
26:19Interesting and a minor adjustment from Inouye.
26:23Earlier tonight, just the second time in the career of Inouye that he has been knocked down.
26:28We saw the odds swing way in the favor the other way as Cardenas was showing his stuff.
26:34Remember, Inouye, minus 6,500 favorite at the start of the night.
26:40But after that last round, when he came back, back up to minus 1,300.
26:45That shows you the entertainment value you're getting here with this undisputed world championship
26:51fight.
26:52That's the last round.
26:53Inouye bounces back and looked awesome.
26:55It was 29 out of 80 thrown.
27:01Came out, let go of Yan.
27:10Again, Inouye,Ö¹ communicated
27:10again in a way walking that tight line right there beautiful slip counter right there from
27:18Cardenas counter right hand overhand right now in a way again he loves that rope I'm telling you
27:25that tight line he gets close to the fire he's trying not to get burned but gosh I'm telling
27:30you Cardenas is right off the mark I mean man a few more inches with that shot he's gonna be able
27:36to land I'm telling you Cardenas is digging in when he fires he brings it but what he needs to do is
27:44he needs to take the level down go to the shoulder or step in one little half a step forward when he
27:50throws that left hook and he will catch it away it was the left hook that did the damage in the
27:57second round Cardenas has landed 23 power punches to this point there's a combination with the right
28:02hand split the garden down the left hand going to the body from the monster and it has an 82 to 47
28:09connect advantage to this point
28:11oh
28:15thudding right hand and Cardenas fires back to the body
28:19fires back to the body he's got such heart in there
28:23I'm coming back if you're gonna move your head like that lean forward I understand
28:51I don't want you to lean back I want you to stand the show when you drop the show I need to stay far
29:14stand behind and move your head side to side and step in can't wake up boy so you're gonna catch him
29:19shoot him shoot him shoot him shoot him shoot him shoot him now you in a way has often said that he wants to make
29:37the fights that people enjoy well everybody is wildly entertained with what we are seeing tonight and give credit for Ramon Cardenas for delivering with power
29:48we're here in round number six in a way has a 91 to 53 connected advantage but he has been for for just the second time in his career
30:01Tess this is the first fight that I've seen him in a way where his power is not
30:06his power is not
30:08hasn't transitioned well Tess at once for 122
30:12I mean shot that just landed there look he's hitting them with everything and Cardenas already told Joel that he's like hey you don't have power
30:19he's used to fighting bigger guys Cardenas
30:22Inouye came in from the lower weight classes but this is the first time me actually seeing a guy stand directly in front of him and say I don't fear you
30:29I don't fear you referencing Joel Diaz the veteran trainer of Ramon Cardenas who of course Timmy was with you for so many years
30:39absolutely
30:41back to the body with that probing jab from the monster
30:52catches him on the inside with a right hand underneath that attack to the body
30:55right
30:57now you got to keep in mind that Cardenas this is first 12 rounder
31:01yes exactly first world title fight in the career of Cardenas and something that is critical
31:06when he heard him with that
31:07he heard him with that
31:08here goes the monster and he's got a lot of time to work with
31:13varying attack to the head to the body
31:16Cardenas is in that neutral corner and a strafing attack
31:20he's in a whole lot of trouble now oh he heard him with that body shot too
31:24left hand for the body comes in from Inouye
31:29can Cardenas survive this last minute of round six
31:33Cardenas sitting on the left hook Tess he's sitting on it he's waiting he's waiting
31:37he's behind the explosive right hook that did damage earlier but Inouye unrelenting
31:43now Cardenas gives an angle turns things around and he comes swinging out
31:50Inouye said he loves the war he loves these type of fights oh what a great round we've got here
31:55the heart and grit of Cardenas the elite offensive attack of Inouye
32:05oh right hand and then a body shot that left hand swept across the belt line and
32:11Cardenas has to gather himself now short left uppercut just missed with the right comes back with the left attack after attack to the body look at this punishment
32:22final seconds of round six this is the way it's supposed to look
32:32he's different Tess he's different man oh man is that great stuff
32:48he's been the out of the way hold on are you going to do this here or not
33:00them
33:01let's take you to where we've arrived the highlights
33:04unbelievable through six rounds it's been a throw it absolutely has both guys made the second
33:11round right here oh my gosh landing that left hook beautiful that's a signature left hook from
33:17from Cardenas right there, Cardenas feels that,
33:20hey, I can take his punching power, no doubt.
33:23I can sit in front of this monster.
33:26However, as the rounds continue,
33:28as Cardenas continues to take these punches over and over,
33:32whether they're landing cleanly or not,
33:34that takes a lot out of you.
33:36But you saw in that last round anyway,
33:39going forward, he understands now
33:42what Cardenas is trying to do.
33:44And now he's taking that away from him.
33:46Now what we gotta see is what Cardenas have planned
33:49moving forward.
33:50In that sixth round, now Yanaway threw 90 punches,
33:54landed 48, but look at this.
33:5733 of them were power punches in the last round.
33:5933 power punches landed in the last round by Yanaway.
34:09You see Yanaway keep pulling away from that left hook,
34:11he sees it.
34:14He has it down now.
34:16Let's check in with Bernardo.
34:20In the corner of Ramon Cardenas, they do not want Yanaway having the momentum.
34:24They want Cardenas to go forward and attack and pressure,
34:28because that's when he had success earlier on.
34:30Absolutely.
34:32Now, I mean, look, when you have a line like Yanaway and he's pushing you back,
34:36he knows the end is near, and he's going for it.
34:40Ooh, Yanaway getting caught right there, standing straight up, oh, that was good.
34:45Ooh, kill shot right there, attempt from Yanaway.
34:51San Antonio base, Ramon Cardenas.
34:54He's giving everything he possibly can, but finding out that there are offensive levels to this game.
35:02And when you go against Yanaway, the level is different.
35:07He broke his back test.
35:08Look at this attack here, halfway through round seven.
35:12Did you see how he crumbled it all in the roadside there?
35:15Oh, he sends him back with that left hand to the side.
35:18The body shots have been effective, but then the right hand sneak in as well.
35:25Comes up and around with the left hook upstairs.
35:28All he needs is a little bit of separation, yet look at Cardenas still standing right in the kitchen.
35:40Look at the fighting, Cardenas.
35:41Putting a fire on, Yanaway, digging with body shots.
35:46Don't you just love the heart?
35:49Right uppercut on the inside.
35:58Shoulder to shoulder.
36:07Separation with the right hand, and that sends Cardenas back a few steps.
36:12And another right hand.
36:14Oh!
36:15But it knocks him down!
36:17A right hand scores the knockdown!
36:20Five, six, seven, eight.
36:23Good, come here.
36:24Let's go, let's go, let's go.
36:26Final seconds of round seven.
36:29Can he get to the bell?
36:31Or will the monster strike?
36:34You have to be careful with that one shot, that's the only thing you have to be careful of us.
37:00You need to go for it, wait. I'm giving you one more fucking round. Why? Because I see that you're slowing down. I need you to show me that you can beat this fucking guy by walking him down. When you walk him down, look, you're already getting it. Okay, but then you stop.
37:16In a way, the end is near. He knows and he smells it. That's what Lions do right here. He does it differently. You see the four right hands right there.
37:27Cardenas, pith in the corner. In a way, making sure that he seals the deal with these combinations right here and trying to close this match.
37:43Joel Diaz in the corner of Ramon Cardenas says, I'm giving you one more round. Cardenas said, why? He says, because you're slowing down. He's also taking immense punishment. 101 power punches absorbed through seven rounds.
37:59In a way, made the adjustments. See, that's a high boxing IQ. He got hit with that shot. Now he's very aware of it now, Tess.
38:14And Cardenas has yet to land that same shot again that he landed in the second round.
38:19Body shot right hand. He's in trouble again. Here in this eighth round, it's all in a way and it's all over. In a way is great. In eight.
38:32When you watch the fight game, you should be in awe of what you're seeing, saying, how are they taking that? How are they giving that? And how awesome is it?
39:00That's what this undisputed world championship fight was. That's what it's supposed to look like. And it delivered. They traded knockdowns. They gave everything they could. A massive underdog showed fire and grip.
39:18An all-time great proved himself. And a massive crowd in Vegas loved every single second of it. Take us through it, Timmy.
39:30Oh my gosh. What a finish by Noya Inouye. Again, when he knows he has his man hurt, when he can feel that he's not giving any kind of resistance, he goes in for the kill.
39:42At this point, it was just a matter of time. Inouye knows it. He felt it before he even stepped out during the round.
39:50Again, too much firepower. I don't care. He doesn't care. Al, yeah, you drop me. However, guess what? I'm going to drop and stop you as well.
40:00Now, this is what greatness looked like, Tess. This is what greatness looked like. This is what the pound-for-pound fighters in the game supposed to be doing.
40:10Let's give it up for kindness. Forgiveness. I mean, for giving us a fight. I mean, truly, he showed up. Not for a paycheck, Tess. He showed up.
40:21Yes.
40:22In against the monster. And we said early on, you looked at his eyes and you just questioned it. But if he could get something early and gain confidence, and that's exactly what happened.
40:36Now, let's make it official with Jimmy Lennon Jr.
40:43Ladies and gentlemen, we have the time. 45 seconds in round number eight. A referee stops the contest. He is the winner by way of technical knockout.
40:55And still, the undefeated, undisputed junior featherweight champion of the world, Naoya, the monster, Inouye.
41:12He's now 30-0 with 27 knockouts. And we will hear from him when we come back.
41:25It was an outstanding night here in Vegas. And Naoya Inouye just won by TKO again. Bernardo.
41:40With a monster, Naoya Inouye.
41:43Naoya, in our fighter meetings, I asked you when you were happiest in the ring.
41:49And you said, when I'm in a bra. What did you think about how happy you were tonight?
41:53I think watching the fight tonight, everybody's very much aware that I like to brawl.
42:16Thank you very much, Nobu.
42:19Now, that round, when he landed that left hook and he dropped you, what was your thinking at that point?
42:25What did you think about how happy you were in the second round?
42:28I was very surprised, but I was very surprised, but I was able to calmly put myself together.
42:41What were the adjustments you made to avoid that left hook the rest of the fight?
42:46In the first round, I thought I had a pretty good distance, but in the second round, it kind of got a little loose.
43:09And then, from thereafter, I made sure I didn't take that punch again.
43:13You landed 49% of your power punches, 108 of 220.
43:19What was that like in terms of him being able to take so many shots until the finish?
43:23Well, otherwise, he's really far apart, but I knew he was tough, but you know, boxing isn't that easy.
43:30When you look at the future, we had some interested observers tonight, Shuju Carrington, the number one contender.
43:37We had the featherweight champion, Rafael Espinoza, who had a great victory before you. What do you want next?
43:44Well, Kennington and Feather-ç´š players, and Spinoza, who had a great victory before you. What do you want next?
44:06Well, Kennington and Feather-ç´š players, and Spinoza, who would you want to fight next?
44:16Next, September, MJ.
44:20Next, September, MJ.
44:23All right. First fight in America in four years. What did you think? Because last time we saw you, we were in the bubble, alone. What about the crowd?
44:31What was the crowd?
44:32What was the crowd today?
44:34I felt that there were a lot of fans in the audience. If you want to enjoy it, I would like to be in the United States.
44:44They were supportive and great, and I hope I was able to entertain them.
44:48This weekend, you were supposed to be the last, and you turned out to be the best, because Canelo fought last night. We had the fight in New York. What message did the monster send to boxing?
44:59Well, in the last three games, we were the best in the last three games, so we were the best in the last three games.
45:06What do you think?
45:07Well, yesterday, there were three games, but I thought we were the best in the last three games.
45:16Yes, I saw the two fights before, and I think this was the most exciting fight.
45:21Thank you very much, the monster, Naoya, Inouye.
45:25What an ovation, and an ovation deserved for both men.
45:31Ramon Cardenas was so game as well.
45:34We're going to have the state of boxing coming up on ESPN app.
45:37Sports Center is coming up after the break, as the chance echo throughout a jam-packed T-Mobile arena.
45:45Inouye, Inouye, he's 30-0 with 27 knockouts in an absolute thriller.
45:54He wins by eighth-round TKO.
45:56For Mark Kriegel, the Hall of Famer, Tim Bradley, Bernardo Osuna, I'm Joe Tessitore.
46:00Enjoy the rest of your night.
46:02Sports Center is coming up after the break, and you can join us on the State of Boxing on the app for all the reaction and analysis.
46:08What a night in Vegas.
46:27To the State of Boxing.
46:29Beautiful action tonight inside the T-Mobile arena here in Las Vegas, Nevada.
46:36In just moments, Naoya, Inouye, is going to be giving away T-shirts to the fans.
46:41But right now, I have the warrior Ramon Cardenas with me here.
46:46Ramon, you came in here, and you were a decided underdog.
46:51Very few people thought you could do what you did tonight.
46:55Talk to me about how you feel.
46:57I feel good.
46:58You know, first things first, I want to thank my manager, my promoter, my team.
47:01You know, I just want to thank the people behind me more than anything.
47:04And other than that, I feel good.
47:05You know, the fight was a tough fight.
47:07I said it all at camp.
47:08I said it all every interview.
47:10He's pound for pound one of the greatest fighters on the planet.
47:13And, you know, I just wanted to give the fans a fight worth watching.
47:19In that second round, when you were able to drop him with that counter left hook, what went through your mind?
47:24What went through my mind was just to keep working.
47:27Because I knew he was going to come back, and I knew he was going to come back stronger.
47:30And for me, we just keep the same game plan.
47:33You keep working, keep walking him down.
47:35It looked like in the seventh round, he landed a big shot to your ribs.
47:38Were there any moment that he hurt you?
47:40No, no, no.
47:41It wasn't so much the power, man, you know.
47:44Honestly, you know, it wasn't so much the power.
47:46It was more the overwhelmingness of him throwing six, seven, eight punches at a time.
47:51And that's mainly what it was.
47:53It was, you know, he has a solid punch, but nothing where I was scared of.
47:58And in terms of what you think about yourself now, because you were able to compete with the pound for pound, great like Naoye Inoue.
48:06I mean, it just goes to show, man, that I just want to put boxing back to what it was.
48:11The best fighting the best.
48:12You know, I want to thank my promoter more than anything, because he has an eye for talent, man.
48:16And my manager as well.
48:17And they gave me this opportunity, and I didn't want to let them down.
48:20Win, lose, draw.
48:21I had said it all, all interviews.
48:22Win, lose, draw.
48:23I'm going to come out here, and I'm going to give it my all.
48:25And I'm going to show people that boxing's back.
48:27Look, this was a weekend where this was an afterthought.
48:30People thought he was going to come in and blow you out.
48:33After what we saw from Canelo, after what we saw in New York City,
48:37and now you see Naoye Inoue handing you a t-shirt as a memento from this fight.
48:43What did you and Naoye Inoue do for boxing tonight?
48:48What did you and Naoye Inoue do for boxing tonight?
48:51We set the stage.
48:52We set the stage for everybody else.
48:56We set the tempo in a sense of now next fights that have to show out
49:01because what we did tonight was legendary, man.
49:04You know, for the both of us, what we did tonight was legendary,
49:07and that's what it was.
49:09Tonight you were in against the monster.
49:10I can't wait to see what you can do against a regular human being.
49:13I just want to give a big shout-out to all the fans that came out tonight.
49:17And I want to give a big shout-out to all the fans that came out tonight.
49:21More than anything, live Mexico, cabrones!
49:23Here we are for a while.
49:24Cinco de Mayo test.
49:26That is how you go out in Vegas.
49:29What a great night.
49:31Yes.
49:32What a great fight.
49:33What a great moment.
49:34Two warriors and fans that you don't see this often in the sport.
49:39The fans are still here.
49:40Nobody is...
49:41There are some people leaving their seat, but people are just standing and taking it in
49:46and talking to each other and cheering.
49:48There are still random cheers that are bursting out.
49:51I think what I sense, what I feel, is gratitude.
49:56Yes, that's exactly it.
49:57The fans just want to breathe it in and cheer these guys out.
50:01On a weekend that was supposed to be, like, in a way it was an afterthought.
50:06Yeah, he stole the weekend.
50:08He really did.
50:09But he did it because of that guy, Ramon Cardenas.
50:12Yes, yes.
50:13And because Cardenas was able to believe in himself.
50:17He said he had to be perfect.
50:19There's his rocky moment, by the way.
50:20Right.
50:21There's his rocky moment.
50:22He may have more rocky moments, Tess.
50:24That's it.
50:25That's rocky one right there.
50:26He's perfect for 36 minutes.
50:27Guess what?
50:28He wasn't...
50:29Nobody's perfect, but he's pretty damn good.
50:32You know what you're saying?
50:35They're yearning for more.
50:36Yep.
50:37They want more Inouye.
50:38This is what I've been talking about, Tess, about having Inouye come to America and take
50:43it over.
50:44He has everything needed to take over America, for sure.
50:49That's why these fans are still standing there.
50:50If he has the financing.
50:51I mean, look, of course.
50:52He can fight in Japan and make, you know...
50:55I understand that.
50:56I wanted something he told me during the week that stayed with me, because we hadn't
51:02spoken in a while.
51:03I said, hey, I want to ask you about getting knocked down early against Luis Neri in 2023.
51:09He said, that was one of my finest moments.
51:12I learned from that what it was like to be knocked down early.
51:15I think he was hurt more this time than he was against Neri.
51:19But to be embarrassed to all of a sudden go down in a big arena with a lot of fans.
51:25I dealt with it.
51:26And he dealt with something that was more extraordinary some years before with Donaire.
51:32But he likes the ball because it brings out the best in him and the stuff that you can't
51:39forget.
51:40The stuff that stays with you.
51:41The reason why these people are staying.
51:44I remember reading something about Queen Elizabeth and what she said.
51:49She said, we must be seen to be believed.
51:55Tonight we saw Inouye here in America for the fourth time.
52:01I want to ask the fans at home.
52:04Now do you believe?
52:05Do they not believe before?
52:07Look, fighting at odd hours in the morning.
52:10I mean, that's one thing.
52:12Seeing a social media reel of a knockout that happened early in the morning.
52:19That's another thing.
52:20But actually being here present and witnessing them here in America.
52:25Something different.
52:27Something different.
52:29Eleven consecutive world title fights by knockout.
52:34Now 30-0 with 27 knockouts.
52:38Bernardo, he turned to you and he just simply said, I'd like to brawl.
52:43Look, it reminded me of someone who bears their soul in our fighter meetings and then goes
52:51and does it.
52:52Because a lot of times they're lying to us or they're lying to themselves.
52:55He was so honest when I asked him that question.
52:58And we were all surprised in there because we expected a different answer.
53:02And then to go out there and put on the type of performance he put on tonight.
53:06To get up off the canvas.
53:08And to really make those adjustments.
53:10Because Tim, you were so right about your assessment of what his weakness was.
53:14But then we saw the same strength that he showed against Luis Panteritaneri.
53:19And I think the adjustments he made.
53:21Yep.
53:22And once he went downhill, that was what Joel Diaz feared.
53:26And he knew that and he told me.
53:28Here's the knockdown coming up in round two.
53:30That's the same shot that Neri landed.
53:32That's it.
53:33The same exact punch.
53:34That left foot right there.
53:35Tim, I want to pause and give you credit for that.
53:37Your lab work pre-ballot was as good as an analyst can be in television.
53:44You literally showed a piece, a clip of film and said, this is what he does wrong.
53:50And this can happen tonight.
53:51Look.
53:52The same.
53:53That is as good a work of a TV analyst as I've ever seen.
53:56Thank you, Tess.
53:57I'm going to let y'all know there's a lot more.
54:00There's a lot more.
54:01However, I got lucky tonight.
54:04I'm not going to lie.
54:05You didn't get lucky.
54:06You didn't get lucky.
54:07And then he turned it on in rounds six, seven, and eight.
54:12And in a way landed 64 of 117 power punches.
54:1855% of his power punches over the last three rounds.
54:22Over the last three rounds, he landed 64 power punches.
54:26So we've seen him knock guys out with one single punch.
54:30However, the combinations that he throws with the speed, the power,
54:35and the accuracy, listening to Cardenas explain that at the end.
54:40It was overwhelming.
54:41He was like, it's too much.
54:43It's too much to deal with.
54:44One thing I'm not quite sure about what Cardenas said.
54:47You know, it wasn't his power.
54:49It was the volume, which was like something that you hear from someone
54:52who has just fought Lomachenko in his mind.
54:55However, in those last rounds, you saw him pin his left arm by his side.
55:03And that sucker did not leave.
55:05And it opened him up for the eventual knockout, which is a right hand upstairs.
55:09Because that hand was like tucked right by his rib cage.
55:12And that's the right hand bag run over.
55:14We would hear that instead.
55:16We've got to stay.
55:17Let's take half.
55:19Absolutely.
55:20God known for this, we're going from the end.
55:23I have to stall picking the inteligens the seventh pick cab ball down.
55:24Imagination.
55:25Let's just keep going from that.
55:27But feeling like that is a good day and all the type of catchmaster,
55:29thatーー are joining us!
55:30And like that
55:35click through to catchphrase.
55:36All the time.
55:37Look up, me intuitive.
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