Inoue Rescues A Dull Boxing Weekend

With a sigh at the beginning and a roar at the finale, the past 48 hours in boxing have been a tornado of emotion.

Naoya Inoue's spectacular performance against Ramon Cardenas gave fans still reeling from a string of lacklustre bouts a reminder of what makes this sport so exciting. Inoue destroyed his opponent in just three rounds, wiping off any recollection of the dull proceedings that had preceded it. Though the real in-ring action was barely enough to keep fans awake, Friday night in Times Square promised pyrotechnics under the glittering lights of New York City.

The dull and unimpressive matches fell short of expectations. What transpired between the ropes was a sharp contrast to the excitement of the spectators and the energy of the legendary stadium. As the night dragged on without any drama, excitement, or surprise, even ardent fans found it difficult to remain attentive.

A nice adrenaline rush and a change of environment were provided by Saturday night. Canelo Alvarez made his comeback to the ring in Riyadh as the sly veteran who could still captivate attention across the world. He brought with him not only his polished skillset but a sense of purpose as he faced an unworthy challenge in William Scull. Scull appeared satisfied with simply surviving the encounter, while Canelo set the tempo and dominated the action. Fans questioned if he was ready for this stage because he had a mediocre performance, shuffled instead of fighting, and showed little resistance.

Although Canelo's supremacy was always clear, the bout lacked the back-and-forth intensity that makes fights memorable. As Scull sank into the background of his moment, it became a footnote and a platform for the Mexican mythology. Fortunately, the weekend was saved by the genius of Naoya Inoue. He gave a master lesson in speed, power, and accuracy in Tokyo. With clinical efficiency, Inoue destroyed Cardenas, and he never had a chance. It was an adrenaline rush that brought home to the boxing world why it keeps watching: the right boxer can erase disappointment in a matter of minutes.