In a remarkable face-off, Ramon Cardenas almost provided a spectacular knockdown versus Naoya Inoue early in their extremely expected battle. However, Inoue showcased his extraordinary durability and ability, eventually accomplishing an eighth-round blockage. After the match, Cardenas revealed his frustration over the loss however highlighted his pride in his efficiency. He highlighted that his main objective has actually constantly been to challenge the very best in the sport, instead of merely going after an unblemished record. This mindset shows his dedication to the sport and the regard he holds for elite competitors.

Cardenas Shares His Thoughts on the TKO Loss to Inoue

“I feel good. Yes, I lost, but I don’t feel defeated. I’ve always maintained that I never aimed to retire undefeated or become a fighter with a perfect record. That was never my intention. My focus has always been on facing the best opponents out there. Win, lose, or draw, I want to challenge the best fighters in boxing. Whether I come out victorious or not, it’s about the experience of competing against top-level talent.”

Cardenas Discusses His Aspirations for a Future World Title Opportunity

“That’s definitely the plan moving forward. My promoter and manager are all supportive, and everyone is pleased with how I performed. For me, I feel more content than anything else because the essence of boxing is about the best fighters competing against one another, regardless of the outcome. I fought valiantly and went out on my shield, and I hold no shame in that loss because I gave it my all.”

Cardenas Reflects on Whether He Believed He Could Stop Inoue After Dropping Him

“No, my mindset was more about continuing the fight than expecting a stoppage. Inoue is a pound-for-pound champion, and he’s an exceptionally talented fighter. I knew he would fight back fiercely. When you’re up against a tough competitor like him, you can’t expect them to go down easily. Just like me, he has a strong spirit and will keep pushing forward, no matter how many punches he takes. I’ve experienced moments where I’ve taken hits and still managed to smile because I refuse to go down without a fight.”

Cardenas Weighs in on the Fairness of the Stoppage

“I would never criticize the referee for his actions during the fight. He observed something in my performance that I might not have seen at the moment. I will not label it as a premature stoppage. The referee is trained to make those calls, and I respect that. I know that when I step into the ring, I’m prepared to go out on my shield. One of my favorite movies is The Gladiator, and there’s a quote that resonates with me: ‘I knew a man who once said death smiles at us all; all a man can do is smile back.’ That’s the perspective I carry into every fight, and that’s how I view the sport of boxing.”