🛑 5 MINUTES AGO: Ramon Cardenas Accuses Naoya Inoue of Cheating — “The Referee Helped Him Win”

Las Vegas, Nevada – May 6, 2025 — Controversy is boiling over once again as rising bantamweight contender Ramon Cardenas has publicly accused Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue of cheating in their recent fight, claiming the referee directly helped Inoue secure the victory.

Speaking to reporters just minutes ago, Cardenas expressed his frustration, stating:

“Everybody saw it. The referee was on his side the whole time. He gave him breaks, stopped the action when I was hurting him. This wasn’t a fair fight. He needed help to win.”

Cardenas, known for his aggressive style and resilience, put up a tough challenge against Inoue, but ultimately lost by unanimous decision. However, the American fighter insists the outcome was manipulated through biased officiating.

He specifically pointed to moments where the referee allegedly gave Inoue extra recovery time after big exchanges, and claims illegal clinching was ignored in crucial rounds.

“I came to fight fair. But when the ref is working against you, what can you do? Inoue’s a great fighter, but tonight, he didn’t win this alone.”

The accusations have sparked a wave of debate online, with fans divided. Some believe Cardenas has a point, while others argue he’s making excuses after being outboxed.

So far, Naoya Inoue has not responded to Cardenas’ allegations. His team, however, has dismissed the claims as “sore loser talk,” emphasizing the clear scorecards and Inoue’s superior performance.

Whether an official review will be requested remains to be seen, but this latest accusation adds more fuel to the growing criticism surrounding Inoue’s recent fights.

For now, the spotlight is once again on Naoya Inoue, not for his victory — but for the controversy that follows.