Naoya Inoue overcame a rare knockdown and battered Ramon Cardenas in the eighth to keep his perfect record and undisputed super-bantamweight titles intact.

Naoya Inoue once again proved why he’s one of the most feared fighters in boxing, recovering from a rare knockdown to stop American challenger Ramon Cardenas in the eighth round and retain his undisputed super-bantamweight world titles in Las Vegas.

The Japanese star, fighting outside his home country for the first time since 2021, was stunned late in the second round by a sharp left hook from the underdog Cardenas — only the second time he had ever hit the canvas in his glittering career.

But Inoue, now 30-0 with 27 knockouts, rose quickly, weathered the storm and responded in devastating fashion.

“Everybody is aware I like to brawl,” Inoue said afterwards. “I was very surprised [by the knockdown] but I was able to calmly pull myself together. From thereafter I made sure I didn’t take that punch again.”

True to his word, Inoue reasserted control. While Cardenas bravely stood his ground, even trading heavy shots in a punishing fourth round, the balance of power began to shift. By the seventh, the champion’s trademark precision and ruthless power began to overwhelm the Texan challenger.

A vicious body shot followed by a flurry of right hands sent Cardenas to the canvas near the end of round seven. Although he beat the count, he returned to his corner looking spent.

Sensing his moment, Inoue charged out in round eight, landing a concussive right that rocked Cardenas back into the ropes. Referee Thomas Taylor had seen enough and stepped in to wave it off just seconds into the round, sparing Cardenas further punishment.

The win maintains Inoue’s perfect professional record and solidifies his place as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound kings. His performance also silenced any lingering doubts about his resilience after the second-round shock.

Inoue’s ability to absorb adversity and respond with clinical destruction has been a recurring theme throughout his career. This latest win reinforces his dominance in the super-bantamweight division — and raises fresh anticipation about his next move.

Meanwhile, on the undercard, Mexico’s Rafael Espinosa improved to 27-0 with a seventh-round TKO over Edward Vazquez. Fighting in the featherweight division, Espinosa issued a direct challenge to the man of the night.

“I know a fight against Naoya Inoue would catapult me into stardom,” Espinosa declared, eyeing a future clash that could test both men’s unbeaten streaks.

For now, though, the spotlight remains firmly on Inoue, who left Las Vegas with his belts, legacy, and fearsome aura fully intact.