Ramon Cardenas had the time of his life in his own backyard, San Antonio, Texas. At the Boeing Center at Tech Port, Cardenas pulled off a stunning upset against Rafael Pedroza last Friday. With two beautiful left hooks in the second round, he made sure Pedroza hit the mat, causing the referee to call an end to the fight. The clock read 1:22 in that unforgettable second round.
Cardenas shared his strategy after the fight. “I caught him with a right to the body, and I saw his guard go down. So, I aimed high, and it worked,” he said. “I had a gut feeling that the same strategy would work again, and it did. This is my biggest victory, no doubt, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. I’m confident SHOBOX will invite me back.”
This was not the night Pedroza had imagined for himself. It was his first time fighting outside Panama, and he had entered the ring undefeated, even being ranked fifth in the WBA’s super bantamweight division. But Cardenas, who was fighting in San Antonio for the ninth time, looked relaxed and executed his game plan perfectly, extending his record to 22-1 with 12 KOs, while Pedroza’s record fell to 15-1 with 11 KOs.
In the past, Cardenas had racked up some great wins, including a decisive victory against Michel Banquez. Now, he’s more confident than ever. “I’ve been trying to get noticed for over a year,” he said. “And with this win, I think I’ve done just that.”
The event also featured another standout performance. Mirco Cuello, a 2020 Argentine Olympian known for his aggressive fighting style, took on Rudy Garcia in a featherweight fight. Both fighters gave it their all, but in the end, Cuello dominated, winning by unanimous decision. The scores? A clean sweep of 99-90 across the board. The win boosted Cuello’s record to 13-0 with 11 KOs while Garcia’s dropped to 13-1-1 with 2 KOs.
Garcia’s knockdown in the fifth round drew some controversy. Though the referee ruled it a knockdown, not everyone agreed. But that didn’t seem to faze Cuello, who continued his aggressive style until the final bell.
Kicking off the telecast was a welterweight fight featuring Freudis Rojas and Saul Bustos. Rojas showcased his exceptional boxing skills, putting an end to his knockout streak but cruising to a comfortable unanimous decision win. The judges’ scores read 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73 in favor of Rojas, who now holds a record of 12-0 with 11 KOs. Bustos’ record fell to 15-2-1 with eight KOs.
Rojas summed up his experience, saying, “Not all fights need to be knockouts. As a young contender, I’m still learning, and tonight was about keeping my cool in later rounds.”