Inoue and Cardenas make weight
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On Sunday night we’ll see undisputed Super Bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25) [井上尚弥] return to a US ring for the first time in around 4 years, as he takes on the once beaten Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14) at the T-Mobile Arena, in Las Vegas.
On Saturday night the two men took part in their weigh in for the bout, and both made the 122lb, Super Bantamweight limit, without any issues at all.
Inoue came in at 121.9lbs, and looked in sensational shape, whilst Cardenas, who has clearly whipped himself into brilliant condition himself, was 121.8lbs. Notably Inoue looked full of confidence through out and whilst Cardenas didn’t look quite as confident, for what is easily the biggest fight of his career, he did look relaxed, likely aware that the pressure is on Inoue, not just to win, but to look sensational.
After the weigh in Inoue spoke about the future, explaining that “I want to get even stronger," and that he has eyes on the Featherweight division down the line, explaining "I want to take on the challenge as my final goal."
Notably at the weigh in, which was set up to accommodate around 200 fans, the venue was packed, and saw a real buzz, more so than typical for a weigh in, and it seemed the fans there knew they were seeing an all time great. The idea that Inoue needs to fight in the US more often to be a star is clearly wrong, but when he’s there it’s obvious he has star power on both sides of the Pacific, with his star power well on show here.
Also on this show will be OPBF Featherweight champion Mikito Nakano (12-0, 11) [中野幹士], making his US debut. He will face Puerto Rican fighter Pedro Marquez Medina (16-1, 10) in a 10 rounder. On the scales both men were just under the Featherweight limit of 126lbs. Nakano came across as confident and seemed to be soaking in the atmosphere, and whilst the expectation is that he will go for a KO, he seemed to explain that he was more focused in winning, rather than how he wins.
On Saturday night the two men took part in their weigh in for the bout, and both made the 122lb, Super Bantamweight limit, without any issues at all.
Inoue came in at 121.9lbs, and looked in sensational shape, whilst Cardenas, who has clearly whipped himself into brilliant condition himself, was 121.8lbs. Notably Inoue looked full of confidence through out and whilst Cardenas didn’t look quite as confident, for what is easily the biggest fight of his career, he did look relaxed, likely aware that the pressure is on Inoue, not just to win, but to look sensational.
After the weigh in Inoue spoke about the future, explaining that “I want to get even stronger," and that he has eyes on the Featherweight division down the line, explaining "I want to take on the challenge as my final goal."
Notably at the weigh in, which was set up to accommodate around 200 fans, the venue was packed, and saw a real buzz, more so than typical for a weigh in, and it seemed the fans there knew they were seeing an all time great. The idea that Inoue needs to fight in the US more often to be a star is clearly wrong, but when he’s there it’s obvious he has star power on both sides of the Pacific, with his star power well on show here.
Also on this show will be OPBF Featherweight champion Mikito Nakano (12-0, 11) [中野幹士], making his US debut. He will face Puerto Rican fighter Pedro Marquez Medina (16-1, 10) in a 10 rounder. On the scales both men were just under the Featherweight limit of 126lbs. Nakano came across as confident and seemed to be soaking in the atmosphere, and whilst the expectation is that he will go for a KO, he seemed to explain that he was more focused in winning, rather than how he wins.