LAS VEGAS — They’ve all played here. From Elvis to Sinatra, from Gretzky to Ali, and from Tiger to Brady, so many of the greatest athletes and entertainers all made stops in this gambling oasis.
The arrival of Naoya Inoue, however, hasn’t been celebrated to the degree theirs were back in the day. Inoue, a two-division undisputed champion, has yet to see his name etched into the global consciousness the way those others have.
Still, his dominance in the ring places him among his sport’s greatest, a punching version of Elvis. He’s a tiny man with terrifying power and electrifying charisma, and commands a boxing crowd every bit as well as Elvis was able to command concert-goers from the stage.
The Japanese “Monster,” already one of the greatest fighters in the history of this storied sport, lags far behind those iconic figures in name recognition and public acceptance.
Greta Garbo, a three-time Best Actress nominee, is famous for saying, “I want to be let alone.”
Inoue, who defends his title Sunday at T-Mobile Arena against Ramon Cardenas, would be the happiest guy around if he were to be let alone, bothered only when it’s time to train and time to fight. While Garbo sought solitude for personal reasons, Inoue uses it to sharpen his focus, preferring the quiet of the gym to the noise of the spotlight.
Media attention doesn’t suit him. He’s a massive star in Japan and a headline name globally, but he’s as averse to microphones and swarms of reporters as Garbo ever was.
Outside of Japan, he uses the language barrier to his advantage, avoiding media altogether if possible and saying little of substance when he does speak.
He’s not going to make news anywhere but in the middle of the ring, where he’s won all 29 of his fights, 26 by knockout, and at age 32 has captured titles in four weight classes.
He’s the closest thing to Mike Tyson in the ring since, well, Tyson. Like Tyson, Inoue has that rare ability to finish a fight with one shot. He doesn’t need to set up a flurry of punches to end it; his power can cut through the competition in an instant.
There have been many great punchers since, but even the big ones, like Gennadiy Golovkin, needed to put shots together to make it a short night.
While his raw power sets him apart, Inoue’s ability to break opponents down with his technique and stamina is just as dangerous. He’s not just a knockout artist; he’s a thinking fighter who knows how to wear opponents down before delivering that final blow.
Inoue’s name belongs among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford. Each of them has been undisputed in two weight classes: Usyk at cruiserweight and heavyweight; Crawford at super lightweight and welterweight; and Inoue at bantamweight and super bantamweight.
He’s carving a spot for himself that few have reached.
Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Naoya Inoue is a 30-1 favorite over Ramon Cardenas in their bout Sunday for the undisputed super bantamweight title.
And while he’s no different than most athletes in understanding that getting the win is Job No. 1, he also realizes the massive expectations which have been heaped upon his slender shoulders.
“I am very much aware of what the fans expect of me,” he said. “And on [Sunday], I plan on meeting those expectations.”
While he’d rather avoid the spotlight, he has a swagger to him that draws people to him. He’s a massive 30-1 favorite to defeat Cardenas, who is 26-1 with 14 KOs.
Cardenas is a quality fighter, though nowhere near Inoue’s class (To be fair to Cardenas, few on the planet are).
Inoue, though, is impressed — to a degree.
“Cardenas is a beautiful fighter,” Inoue said. “He’s an all-around good fighter, but for me, it’s easy. No matter how he comes out, I think I have the advantage.”
Inoue’s bout will cap a wild weekend in which many of boxing’s biggest stars compete. On Friday, it’s Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez. On Saturday, attention shifts to undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
Then, on Sunday, they saved the best for last.
You get the sense that Cardenas knows that better than anyone. He’s had to watch the videos of Inoue systematically taking apart and taking out elite opponents and wonder what he’s gotten himself into.
But he’s going in with eyes open, chin girded and trying to take a swing at history.
“I have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” Cardenas said. “I have no pressure on me, so I’m going to go out there and give the fans a great show.
“I'm not here for the money. I'm here for the legacy. If I become a world champion, nobody can take that away from me.”
If Cardenas somehow manages to survive 12 rounds with ‘The Monster,’ it will be the biggest upset since a publicly funded stadium project finishes on time and under budget.
Let’s be honest: The likelihood of a Cardenas win is roughly on par with my chances of winning the U.S. Open in June at Oakmont.
Is Inoue the best fighter in the world? Quite possibly. He may also be the quietest. But when the bell rings on Sunday, you won’t need subtitles to understand what Naoya Inoue is trying to say.