Ramon Cardenas, who managed to drop Naoya Inoue in their 2025 bout, has shared his thoughts on this weekend’s historic showdown with Junto Nakatani.
Inoue has been dropped twice over the course of his outstanding 32-fight career, but rose to win in emphatic fashion on both occasions to remain undefeated. This weekend, he takes on what should be his most difficult challenge yet in a fascinating scrap with fellow Japanese pound-for-pound star, Junto Nakatani.
A three-division champion, Nakatani has been somewhat in the shadows of Inoue, in hot pursuit of a clash with his countryman, which he has now finally secured.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Cardenas, who lost to Inoue last year and has sparred a total of 99 rounds with Nakatani, explained that, for the latter to pull off the upset, he must use his range.
“When the going gets tough, Junto still sticks with the game plan, even if it may be difficult. For Junto to win this fight, he needs to use his reach to do what he wants that night. He can’t let Inoue control the pace.
“And with Junto’s length, it could be hard to get into range. Junto is very good at using his range. When I fought Inoue, I said going in that I had to be perfect for 36 minutes. But for Junto, I feel that it could be a 50-50 fight.”
However, the Texan added that Nakatani may have more difficulty landing the overhand that he and Luis Nery did in Inoue’s two career knockdowns, due to the adjustments made by the debatable pound-for-pound king.
“It’s going to be difficult for Junto to drop Inoue with the overhand left the same way Luis Nery and I did because Inoue is expecting it, one hundred percent.
“You can tell that Inoue has worked on neutralising the left hand connecting on him ever since fighting me. I’ll bet you anything they are constantly drilling to keep the right hand tucked to the chin to not let the left hand get through.
“Whoever makes the first big mistake is going to pay. I don’t know if it will be a knockout or not in this fight, on either side, because they both know how to adjust.
“If Hernandez couldn’t knock out Junto, I don’t think Inoue can necessarily do it either. I see both guys imposing their dominance.”
‘Dinamita’ refused to offer a prediction for the contest, but finished off by giving credit to both men for accepting such a difficult fight and setting an example for their fellow boxing superstars.
“I’ll keep who I actually think will win to myself. The best answer I can give is that boxing will win. This is the kind of fight that boxing needs – the top guys, the best fighting the best. Other people should take note. It’s not about being undefeated; that’s bogus.”
Inoue-Nakatani takes place on Saturday, May 2 at the Tokyo Dome.
