Anyone that understands boxing knows Inoue can risk less and can avoid getting KD like that. As an Inoue fan what’s scary for me though is how competitive Cardenas was. This wasn’t a flash against Nery where he completely outboxed and schooled him after. Cardenas was a live dog and took rounds from him and ate his hardest shots. Only reason he was stopped was accumulation, he even said Inoue doesn’t punch hard. Not sure what gloves Inoue was using, but unless he was using super padded gloves like winning. I think Inoue is probably on the decline now. He looked slower against the Korean bum and looked mediocre against Doheny. Last time he looked excellent was against Nery. While Inoue is no doubt a HOFer I feel he underachieved by not getting those huge fights. Imo he would’ve beat Chocolatito, Estrada etc in their prime, but he didn’t. For him to really stamp his career, he needs to go up to 126 and become undisputed and beat Espinoza and Ball. Fighting MJ does nothing for his career. Another solid contender but lost to Tapales.
I think Cardenas was just better than expected. I checked him out a bit before this bout and was a bit surprised - I thought he was good. I know @CST80 was saying he was good iirc. I have a feeling that Inoue's resume is one that will look better and better in retrospect after he retires. And he probably is declining, considering he is a sub 135lber in his 30s. Imo he will have to change his style for more success higher up.
Look my boy @CST80 knows his ****, Cardenas isn’t a bum by any means like the Korean dude but he’s not elite. If you’re an Inoue fan you want him to go for legacy, MJ isn’t legacy.
I want him to go to 126 asap. The only fight I think he should still be looking for at super Bantam is if Nakatani come up
No way you’re an Inoue fan!!! lol That’s surprising to me. Well we can actually root for a fighter together for once!! Which I gotta say is kinda weird… lol So you agree he’d knock tank the **** out??
Tank is the absolute worst match up for him. South paw with nasty left hand? His kryptonite is literally a big left hand punchers
Inoue should catchweight all guys at 126! Pacquiao and Mayweather did it. He is the A side, he decides how and when to fight. Catchweight or nothing. No reason for him to lose because of weight bullies (especially Espinoza). Lomachenko made a huge mistake not catch-weighting Haney and Teofimo, those loses hurt his legacy
Not to mention all the KDs are Rd 1 or Rd 2 events. Inoue really does take over after Rd 3/4, but hes vulnerable in early going.
MJ is still a decent fight. Different style, will bring it. The number two in the division right now. If we dismiss him on the strength of a split decision loss we devolve boxing into this 'be-undefeated-or-you're-crap' fiasco.
If you're supposedly p4p #1 aka the best fighter on the planet, you are not beyond critique. No matter the style you use, if you look vulnerable, which Inoue did, people are going to adjust their opinions of who the best active fighter is.
Say whatever you want, his mandible is on the suspect list. True, it's premature to suggest he has a glass jaw, but I won't be shocked if he gets laid out cold at some point.
