SUNDAY: Inoue-Cardenas and Rafael Espinoza-Edward Vazquez will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
Promoter Eddie Hearn announced today that the fight between Naoya Inoue and Murodjon Akhmadaliev is scheduled for Sunday, September 14th, in Japan. It’s been two years in the waiting, and it’s coming a little late for many fans, who’d given up on it. Inoue still needs to win his fight against Ramon Cardenas, but that’s expected to be another easy one of the many he’s had.
Hearn is happy that his fighter, former IBF and WBA 122-lb champion Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) is finally getting a shot at fighting Inoue, 32, for his four titles at super bantamweight. Eddie has been pushing for the fight to happen for ages.
The Long Wait & Lukewarm Reaction
The reaction to Hearn’s announcement today hasn’t been tremendous on social media. Akhmadaliev’s loss to Tapales two years ago in 2023 has sapped a lot of the interest that there once was in this fight.
If Inoue had fought him in 2022 when he was still unbeaten, the fight would have been huge. The Japanese star chose not to. So, the fight isn’t that big of a deal. Fans are more interested now in Inoue moving up to 126 and taking on champions Rafael Espinoza, Angelo Leo, and Nick Ball.
The Avoidance Strategy
The 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Akhmadaliev has been under the impression that Inoue has been avoiding him, which might be true. Inoue has a good thing going in Japan, adored by the country, which collectively doesn’t mind that he’s fighting less-than-stellar opposition.
They think he’s great and aren’t putting his feet to the fire to pressure him to start fighting the elite-level competition. With the money Naoya is making fighting guys like Ye Joon Kim and TJ Doheny, why would he want to take risky fights where he might lose?
This announcement might increase interest in Inoue’s fight this Sunday night against Ramon Cardenas on May 4th in Las Vegas, as there’s been no buzz from the U.S for that fight for obvious reasons. It’s seen as another soft opponent for ‘The Monster’ Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs) to knockout in a disappointing fight in America.
Done deal, finally! 🤝
Uzbek Power vs The Monster ✍️
Best fight in the division 🇺🇿🔥🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/ORLjzNDUFy
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) May 1, 2025
Sunday, May 4
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
Naoya Inoue vs. Ramon Cardenas, 12 rounds, Inoue’s Undisputed Junior Featherweight World Title
Rafael Espinoza vs. Edward Vazquez, 12 rounds, Espinoza’s WBO Featherweight World Title
ESPN+ (6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m. PT)
Rohan Polanco vs. Fabian Maidana, 10 rounds, Polanco’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight Title
Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Juan Leon, 8 rounds, Vacant Jr. NABF Junior Welterweight Title
Mikito Nakano vs. Pedro Marquez, 10 rounds, Featherweight
Art Barrera Jr. vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr., 6 rounds, Junior Middleweight
Raeese Aleem vs. Rudy Garcia, 10 rounds, Featherweight
Patrick O’Connor vs. Marcus Smith, 4 rounds, Cruiserweight (swing bout)