Prospect of the Month (September): Ramon Cardenas
September is typically a historic month for boxing due to Mexican Independence Day. This year there was no MEGA FIGHT on Mexican Independence Day weekend that came a few weeks later. However, there were a few cards and one in particular featured a Texan, a Mexican-American, who pulled a massive upset and a star-making performance. Ramon "Dinimita" Cardenas put the 118 and 122-pound division with his vicious second-round knockout of Rafael Pedroza on September 15th in Cardenas's hometown of San Antonio on the legendary Showtime SHOBOX series. Cardenas scored the major upset, picked up the biggest win of his career, moved his record to 23-1 (12), and took home the WBA Continental Latin America champion and our Fighter of the Week Award.
Cardenas has long been the forgotten San Antonio prospect, often overlooked in favor of guys like Mario Barrios, Bam Rodrigeuz, Josh Franco, and others. So Friday in his home city. In front of a packed out crowd at the Boeing Center that included the likes of Joshua Franco, Bam Rodriguez, and James Leija, plus San Antonio Spurs great Keldon Johnson, had special meaning for the Alamo City native. The often overlooked and underappreciated Cardenas vaulted himself into the world title picture in spectacular fashion. Cardenas, who has started slow in the past, got to work immediately, bringing the action to Rafael Pedroza. Cardenas landed clean power shots. One particular straight right-hand buckled Pedroza. The Alamo City native dominated the opening three minutes. The next 1:17 changed his trajectory. Cardenas scored with a picture-perfect left hook, caught Pedroza flush on the side of the head, and sent him to the canvas hard. Pedroza got right up and showed more heart than was good for him. Pedroza went right after Cardenas. The Texan scored with another left hook over the top that dropped Pedroza like a building imploding on himself as the crows erupted. Referee Rafael Ramos waved the bout off immediately as Cardenas improved his record to 23-1 (12).
San Antonio has been on a hot streak of putting out world champions like Mario Barrios, Josh Franco, and Bam Rodriguez. Cardenas has gone somewhat under the radar. However, no more will Dinimita be overlooked with a performance like that on a big stage. Cardenas has put himself in the world title picture at 118 and 122. He can make either division comfortably. A fight with WBA/IBF champ Marlon Taples isn't just realistic it's also extremely winnable for Cardenas. If that can't be made, fights like John Riel Casimero, TJ Doheney, or Nordine Oubaali. A win over a veteran like that could propel the Alamo City native into a title fight by 2024 at either Bantam or Super Bantam.
