Naoya Inoue plans to fight three times in three countries in 2025. The “Monster” will kick things off on May 4 in Las Vegas – followed by fights in Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (29-0, 26 knockouts) has officially set his fight schedule for 2025. The undisputed world super bantamweight champion will fight three bouts in three different countries this year. The first will be a title defense on May 4 in Las Vegas against the US American Ramon Cardenas, followed by a mandatory defense in Japan in September. Finally, there will also be a spectacular duel in Saudi Arabia.
Return to Las Vegas in May
Inoue will first defend his WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO bantamweight titles on Cinco de Mayo weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. His opponent, Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 knockouts), has earned this opportunity with 14 consecutive victories. Nevertheless, he goes into the clash with the Japanese superstar, who has not fought in the USA since 2021, as the clear underdog.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum praised Inoue as “one of the best boxers in the world”. He is looking forward to presenting him on a big stage in the USA. Cardenas himself sees this fight as the opportunity of a lifetime: “I knew our paths would cross at some point. I didn’t hesitate for a second when I was offered this fight.”
The fight between Inoue and Cardenas is the highlight of a spectacular boxing weekend. On May 2, a triple-header event will take place in New York with Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero, Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. The big clash between Canelo Alvarez and William Scull for the undisputed super-middleweight crown in Saudi Arabia follows on May 3 – before Inoue closes the boxing festival weekend with his fight in Las Vegas on May 4.
Mandatory defense in Japan, annual financial statements in Saudi Arabia
Should Inoue defeat Cardenas in Las Vegas and remain uninjured, he will return to the ring in his native Japan on September 14 to face WBA interim champion Murodjon “MJ” Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 knockouts). The Uzbek is a former unified champion and, as the WBA’s official challenger, has the right to fight the 31-year-old. His management agreed to postpone the fight against Inoue in order to make the fight against Cardenas possible first.
After fights in the USA and Japan, Inoue will fight his third fight of the year in Saudi Arabia. In November 2024, the Japanese fighter signed a sponsorship deal with Turki Al-Sheikh and the Riyadh Season, which almost guarantees a big fight on one of the glamorous cards in Riyadh. It is still unclear who the opponent will be. Inoue himself has already announced: “2025 is the year I travel the world. I will fight in Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia – please support me everywhere on this journey!”
Text by Robin Josten