Ramon Cardenas is being trained by Manny Robles for his upcoming fight, and Junto Nakatani has played a massive role in this training camp.
Cardenas will face Erik Robles in a 10-round junior featherweight bout on December 18 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The bout will stream live on ProBox TV.
Cardenas, 26-2 (14 KOs), will be making his return to the ring after losing by eighth round stoppage against undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue in May. The 30-year-old Cardenas knocked down Inoue in the fight, which helped lift the contender from San Antonio from an unknown prospect to a notable name in the sport with one fight.
“It is funny we are fighting a southpaw,” Robles told BoxingScene. “Rudy Hernandez is a very great friend of mine, and he trains Junto Nakatani, one of the best fighters, pound-for-pound in the world. We have been sparring with Junto.”
Robles, who has trained many titleholders, has a big roster of fighters, including Oscar Valdez, Andy Ruiz Jnr, Armando Resendiz, and current WBO women’s junior bantamweight titleholder Mizuki Hiruta. Cardenas, who trained with Joel Diaz for his bout with Inoue, will now make his long-awaited return after making a name for himself earlier this year. Robles gave his assessment of Cardenas.
“My perception of Cardenas is that he still has a lot to learn, and he is learning,” Robles said. “He is sparring one of the best fighters in the world. How can you not learn from that?”
Cardenas will not just have Robles in his corner, but his opponent is also named Robles, 16-3 (10 KOs). Robles, a 25-year-old from Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, has lost two of his last three bouts. Robles also holds an upset victory over at-the-time-unbeaten Lee McGregor. Robles is optimistic about what Cardenas will display on fight night, crediting Nakatani for helping him prepare.
“We have Junto as a sparring partner,” Robles said. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”
