By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Naoya Inoue is one of the greatest fighters of this generation and certainly ranks as one of the greatest, period! In a weekend in which great fights were promised but failed to deliver, this one did. The first round was feeling round in which the underdog Cardenas got in a few jabs as Inoue was looking to see what Cardenas had. Cardenas showed a quick jab.

Cardenas launched a combination at the beginning of the second round while Inoue used his jab, body and head shot against his opponent. Cardenas began to push the action and near the end of the round, he put Inoue down with a sharp left hook. 

Cardenas continued to move forward and using his defense to avoid the big Inaoue shots and Inoue found himself in a fight and Cardenas deliver combinations while Inoue found himself open to the counters. After three rounds 29-27 in favor Cardenas.

The fourth round was Inoue best of the first four round as he moved forward out boxing Cardenas and forced Cardenas  to retreat.38-37 still in favor Cardenas. The fifth round was closer as Inoue continued to pursue his opponent, but Cardenas successfully countered to make the round close but Inoue even the fight on my score card.

The sixth round saw Inoue dominating the round and punish Cardenas throughout the round and for the first time, Inoue showed the domination expected and halfway through the fight, Cardenas was behind 57-56.  Very few thought this fight would last this long.

Inoue continued his domination of Cardenas and while Cardenas was game, on occasion, striking back with his own body shot but near the end of the seventh round an Inoue right hand sent Cardenas down and at this point, it was obvious that Inoue would end it soon.

In the beginning of the eighth round, Inoue landed combinations and forcing Cardenas in the corner.  Inoue ended the fight with vicious combinations as the referee stop the fight.

Inoue dominated the fight after the third round, as he landed 137 punches from the fourth to the final stoppage compared to only 49 for Cardenas with 93 punches being power punches.

Inoue hit the canvas in the second round and Cardenas showed no fear but in the end, a very good fighter went up against an elite hall of fame fighter and the good fighter was game but not in the same league.

Inoue landed more the double the punches and from the fourth round, he took control of the fight.

In a weekend of boring fights where boxers carefully restrained their punches as not to entertain the audience, Cardenas and Inoue provided an exciting fight in which the fans were treated to a master at work in Inoue and a game opponent who decided to go for broke to win the bout.