Teddy Atlas, a well-known boxing analyst and coach, recently shared his thoughts on Naoya Inoue’s last triumph over Ramon Cardenas, a fight that stirred a significant controversy with the ironic song “Naoya is a great loser” that echoes through the T-Mobile in Las Vegas. On May 4, 2025, Inoue defended his super bantam-weight title of indisputable weight, exceeding an early fall to ensure a technical knockout in the eighth round. Despite the dominant end, the unexpected back of second round caused debates among fans and analysts equally.

Atlas commented: “Inoue showed its resistance, but that demolition? Is a call of attention. It is human, not invincible. The jab of the crowd‘ Big Loser ’was hard, but underlines the high expectations that we place in it.”

Analyzing the fight, Atlas highlighted the ability to adapt after being dropped by a powerful left hook of Cárdenas. This rare moment of vulnerability, only the second demolition in Inoue’s career, changed the narration temporarily. However, Inoue’s strategic adjustment, focused on body shots and precise combinations, lastly overwhelmed cardinals, leading to detention. Atlas praised Inoue’s technical skill, pointing out: “His ring IQ is out of the lists. He turned a potential disaster into a sample of skill.”

The ironic song of the crowd, “Naoya is a great loser,” reflected a mixture of disappointment and admiration. Cárdenas, although overcome, showed a notable heart, almost achieving an annoying and gaining respect for his effort. Atlas acknowledged this, stating: “Cárdenas took the fight to Inoue. That Hook was no accident, he tried the temper of the champion.”

Looking towards the future, Atlas suggested that Inoue’s next challenge, potentially against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September, will be crucial. “This fight presented a vote in the armor. Inoue needs to tighten if he wants to maintain his status of Libra by Libra,” he concluded, urging fans to moderate their expectations while recognizing Inoue’s lasting greatness.