The boxing world is in shock as Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated legend, has dropped a bombshell about Naoya Inoue’s recent victory over Ramon Cardenas on May 5 at T-Mobile Arena! Mayweather claims the controversial eighth-round knockout that secured Inoue’s undisputed super bantamweight titles was tainted by a hidden scandal, leaving fans and fighters questioning the integrity of the sport. What does Mayweather know that the world doesn’t?

Mayweather’s Explosive Revelation

In a fiery Instagram Live session just moments ago, Mayweather, who has a history of stirring controversy, alleged that the Inoue vs. Cardenas fight wasn’t as clean as it seemed. “I’ve seen the footage—Cardenas was robbed! Inoue’s team paid off the ref to stop the fight early,” Mayweather declared, referencing the moment referee Thomas Taylor stepped in at 0:45 of the eighth round after Inoue unleashed a barrage of punches. Cardenas had been dropped in the seventh and struggled in the eighth, but many fans argued the stoppage was premature, a sentiment Mayweather now fuels with his shocking claim.

Mayweather, who famously outpointed Oscar De La Hoya in 2007—a fight Cardenas idolized as a child—went on to say, “Cardenas was still in it. He took Inoue’s best shots and dropped him in the second round! That ref stopped it because someone got to him—I’ve been in this game too long to not see the signs.” The accusation, which has already garnered over 3 million views online, comes on the heels of Mayweather’s own legal battles, including a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Business Insider over a real estate deal report earlier this week.

Boxing Community in Chaos

The revelation has sparked a firestorm across the boxing world. Fans on social platforms are divided, with one posting, “Floyd’s right—Cardenas deserved a fair chance to fight back!” while another countered, “Mayweather’s just chasing clout—Inoue won fair and square!” Some point to Cardenas’ resilience—he absorbed 176 of Inoue’s 462 punches and landed 80 of 290 himself, per CompuBox—arguing he was still competitive despite the knockdowns. Others note Inoue’s dominance, with 64 of 117 power punches landing in the final three rounds, suggesting the stoppage was inevitable.

Unverified rumors are swirling that Mayweather has “insider evidence,” possibly a leaked conversation between Inoue’s team and the referee, though no proof has surfaced. Cardenas’ trainer, Joel Diaz, who also coaches Inoue’s next opponent Murodjon Akhmadaliev, added fuel to the fire, saying, “We’ve always suspected something wasn’t right—Floyd’s saying what we couldn’t.” Meanwhile, Inoue’s camp has dismissed the claims, with a spokesperson stating, “Naoya fought with honor and won decisively—Mayweather’s accusations are baseless.”

What’s Next for Inoue, Cardenas, and Boxing?

With Inoue set to face Akhmadaliev in September, this scandal threatens to overshadow his legacy as a two-division undisputed champion. Cardenas, whose stock rose despite the loss after dropping Inoue in the second round, might demand a rematch if Mayweather’s claims gain traction. The boxing world is now clamoring for an investigation—could this be the biggest scandal since Mayweather’s own controversial knockout of Victor Ortiz in 2011? As the truth remains elusive, one thing is clear: Mayweather’s bombshell has reignited debates about fairness in the ring, and the fallout is just beginning!