Naoya Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) defends his undisputed super bantamweight title tonight against #8 IBF-ranked Ramon Cardenas (26-1, 14 KOs) in what a lot of fans see as a complete mismatch at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The real gem on this card is WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza (26-0, 22 KOs) defending against Edward Vazquez (17-2, 4 KOs) in the chief support bout. Welterweight contender Rohan Polanco (15-0, 10 KOs) fights Fabian Maidana (24-3, 18 KOs) in a 10-rounder.

Air Times

Tonight’s Inoue-Cardenas main will be shown live on ESPN and ESPN+, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. The preliminary card is on ESPN+ starting at 6:15 pm ET / 3:15 pm PT.

Fans see this fight as one-sided in favor of the Japanese superstar Inoue. Cardenas isn’t a big puncher, and has never fought anyone nearly as talented or as powerful as ‘Monter’ Inoue. While Cardenas has won his last 14 fights, his opposition has been mostly low-level tomato cans.

Fans are angry at Inoue for choosing Cardenas to fight in the U.S. instead of Murodjon Akhmadaliev or Alan David Picasso. Some feel this is intentional on Inoue’s and his management’s part, putting him in with mediocre opposition. It’s a self-defeating move on Naoya’s part, but it might not matter to him. He’s rich and has a huge fan base in Japan.

Complete Card on ESPN and ESPN+

Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas
Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez
Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana
Ra’eese Aleem vs. Rudy Garcia

Prelims begin at 6:15 PM ET / 3:15 PM PT on ESPN+

Mikito Nakano vs. Pedro Marquez
Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Juan Leon
Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr.
Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith

WBO featherweight champion Rafael Espinoza has a potentially difficult fight tonight against Edward Vazquez. The challenger, Vazquez, has a strong chin and has only lost to Raymond Ford and Joe Cordina in close fights.