Inoue Plans May 4 Defense, September Bout in Tokyo

Naoya Inoue is set to defend his undisputed super bantamweight titles against Ramon Cardenas on May 4th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, followed by a planned fight against Murodjon Akhmadaliev on September 14th in Tokyo if he wins. Cardenas, ranked #2 by the WBA, has faced lower-level opposition throughout his career, leading to criticism from fans who feel Inoue is taking an easy fight instead of facing more recognized opponents. Despite being unbeaten at 29-0, critics argue that Inoue's record is inflated due to his choice of opponents, and they want him to pursue tougher challenges at featherweight. The upcoming fight against Akhmadaliev is seen as a more significant test for Inoue, who is currently ranked highly on pound-for-pound lists. Inoue's promoters have finalized the agreements for both bouts, emphasizing the importance of the Akhmadaliev fight in maintaining his championship status. Inoue's cautious fight selection has drawn scrutiny, with some fans calling for him to face stronger competition sooner rather than later.