Again, the sample delivered. After two nights of failed superfights with world-class boxers who refused to get involved, a visible tense Naoya inoue (30-0, 27 KO) made his way to the ring by an arena full of fans eager to dominate the Japanese sensation for the first time in four years.
Inoue, of course, was a heavy favorite against the uninhibited Ramon Cardenas (26-2), but on Sunday night we were reminded that anything is possible if two trained fighters slack their fists to each other. After a typical opening round of inoue in which he threw a variety of hard shots of uncomfortable angles, in the second place, in the second place, was dropped hard by a counter -Linker hook. Immediately after he was sent to the canvas, Inoue got up on his knees, looked at his team, assured them that he was in order, and then watched the ref give him an eight count. His eyes were clear and his behavior was calm, but when he got up and the bell to end the round, he sounded his arm a little in frustration, as if he “damned it, not again.”
In his corner, his father/coach gave a somewhat icy advice before returning his son for another round.
All weekend there was a pattern of fighters who are content to try to keep a rash in every attack touched, and then refuse to get involved. Indeed, when Ryan Garcia was dropped to Times Square on Friday night in the second round of his glorious fight, he got up from the canvas that was shocked and did not want to fire. Devin Haney, despite having a clear advantage in hand and, somewhat shocking, in power, refused to stop side to side to hurt his man. Canelo never decided to push forward and possibly eat a few shots to get his much bigger push against his opponent to end the fight.
Needless to say, it was not and has never been the case with inoue. Fans of the monster love to watch him fight, because he is not concerned about being dropped, tackling challenges in a new weight class or waging a perfect battle. He has said before that he can choose to be a fighter. To paste and move. To win on points. He only consciously refuses this option.
Round three began, and despite being beaten in the final seconds of the previous round, inoue did not walk. He did not hold on and also did not refuse to get involved. He did what he did when he was beaten against Luis Nery, and when he was injured against Nonito Donaire. He fought like hell. Fire with fire. Where many modern fighters would have chosen to change their game plan completely when they realized that the man they were against them could sit on the canvas with a single shot, Inholds chose to want himself by the moment in the old -fashioned way.
He immediately dives back, guns burning, mindful of the lap that put him down. Initially, Cardenas were fortunate to compel him in a battle of haymakers, and even landed some heavy shots, but as has always been the case, inoue began to improve the scholarship. Eventually, Inoue Cardenas could lay down in the 7th round and then finish him in the 8th. While some say online that the fight ended prematurely, it was clear that inoue was starting to steam his opponent, and that at any moments that had only caused more serious and unnecessary damage. In addition, Cardenas’ Corner has already threatened to stop the fight itself, so that the referee’s intervention only slightly undermined their threatening actions.
A few lessons became clear immediately. First, most fans would rather see that a fighter jet at the high level of his opponent would be destroyed as a fighter who wins by fighting as safely as possible. Canelo could have taken a few shots to enter. Haney could have put together some combinations. Ryan could have fought back. Even Teo could have moved on the showboating again and went behind a man that he clearly had more firepower than. Inoue does not live under a rock. He was certainly aware of the ominous performances in the two nights before, and said time and again that he was more interested in giving a good performance than winning a perfect battle. And in the aftermath of the past weekend, even the strongest “boxing is about not hit”, loyalists with such dull events begin with a real exciting performance during the same weekend. Like it or not, boxing show business, and the best way to do a good performance is to be in an exciting battle. There are definitely some people tearing in in golds apart because they are sent to the canvas, but they are strikingly less and further in between than they have been over the past few years, which may be because fighters show that there is more to box than stay unbeaten or junk on social media. People are attracted to the timeless battle of wills and the unpredictability that occur when two fighters with the same restrictions are placed in a limited space and allowed to do what they are best for.
The second is that ridiculous money is a good motivator for fighters to get into the ring, but if it is simply the focus, fans will be abandoned. Promoters and matchmakers must understand that good names do not always deliver good battles. Perhaps fighters agree to walk through the ropes, as there is now an unprecedented amount of cash flowing into the sport and trying to pay them, while going is good, no matter where they are spiritual and motivating. But how can we make the fighters more attractive? If there is an advantage of this, it is that unbeaten fighters are taking more risks these days, which will hopefully lead to a reduced focus on maintaining an unbeaten record. Inoue fights for legacy, so much is clear. He is always going to put someone on their hole, or he will go off himself. Either way, it’s going to be entertaining. Has there ever been such a talented fighter with this kind of mentality?
Finally, to drive home a previous point is box show business. Boxing tried the theater of the unbeaten for a while after the departure of Floyd Mayweather Jr., but it is clear that the matches with an almost certain result do not have the interest of the fan. See how inoue takes himself off the canvas and bite his mouth guard to set up a worker-like action, excited and serious box fans. To grind a game opponent who brought more to the table than he expected created the kind of night you take the next day to work. In the end, this is what the legends of the past have done that have cemented the lasting love for the sport in the hearts of those who follow it. Big fighters have wonderful records, but the legends make up a space in your memories.
What are some of your favorite boxing memories?
Last updated on 05/06/2025
