The Prospect Profile: Arturo Cardenas
The Mexican super-bantamweight with a prime spot on the Ennis Vs. Stanionis unification card.
Image Courtesy of Eight Count.
There are, arguably, more substantial threats to a prizefighter outside of the ring than within.
Injuries during camp or after a difficult fight, illness at any point within a cycle, suspicious contracts or turbulent managerial relationships or the cancellation of an opponent, fight or event altogether.
These are ever-present and unstoppable forces.
One of these is familiar to Arturo Cardenas (15-0-1), also known as Arturo Popoca.
Aligned to the Matchroom promotional outfit, Cardenas was primed and ready to feature on the main card of IBF World Welterweight title-holder Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (33-0) versus WBA World Welterweight title-holder Eimantas Stanionis (15-0).
The card, with the lofty ambition to christen The Ring Magazine champion in the division, is a rather great one and features an assortment of talent from the United States.
Cardenas, a super-bantamweight from Mexico, held a valuable position on the main card, in a contest against Christian Carto (23-1) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A position that is gone.
Carto, sustaining a medical issue, is no longer on the card. As such, Cardenas will fight Edgar Joe Cortes (9-7-1) on the preliminary card.
Although, Cardenas is still one to watch and should be considered an interesting prospect in the Matchroom North American stable.
History & Context
Sahuayo de Morelos is located in Michoacán, Mexico.
Whilst the region is known for the production of avocado and the Guares and Guache Festival, it is not primarily known for boxing. Arturo Cardenas is, by all means, the most notable prizefighter to originate from the area.
Cardenas was, according to 3Kings Boxing, a feature of the Mexican National Amateur Team, but has only garnered acclaim as a fighter in the professional leagues.
Guided throughout the tenure under this code by Robert Garcia, the legendary and highly-revered trainer, Cardenas has been given a blueprint for success. It is under Garcia that his skills have continued to grow.
The debut, in La Petita en la Playita, Puerto Morelos, Mexico, was as composed as it was brief. Ezequiel Yam Pech (0-4) was halted by 0:39 of the second round. It was a sign of great things.
Fight #3 at Resorts World Las Vegas, Nevada, against Juan Hernandez Martinez (6-4-1) gave Cardenas his only minor hiccup as a professional; over the four round distance, they came to a split-decision draw.
Yet, activity would benefit Cardenas immensely, not dwelling on the blemish, but learning. He would fight four more times within 2022 and six times in 2023, where many would become aware of the Mexican.
The matchmaking was also rather astute. Alexis De Luna (10-2) and Alejandro Nicasio Garcia (5-2-1) would lose their undefeated records, whilst Carlos Mujica (8-8) was finished in four on the Rodriguez-Edwards unification undercard.
The latter was also the fight in which Cardenas fully became a Matchroom fighter. On the undercard of the rematch between Nontshinga and Curiel, Cardenas would claim the WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title against nineteen-year-old Ernesto Garcia Flores (12-6).
On the Rodriguez-Estrada undercard, Cardenas would defend that title against the undefeated and durable southpaw Danny Barrios Flores (16-1) in a close majority decision win. It was one of the best performances of the prospects’ career.
The latest contest - as of writing - came against Jesus Arechiga Valdez (23-2), who also gave Cardenas a challenge; the verdict was a split-decision. Valdez has since gone on to win against previous IBO World Super-Bantamweight titleist Erik Robles Ayala (16-3).
Young, talented and willing to enter challenges, Cardenas could become a major figure in the regional and fringe world level scene at super-bantamweight.
Skills & Attributes
Combination Punching:
Time and time again, people praise his immense aptitude for combination punching and interesting flurries.
Fluid and beautiful, the combinations of Cardenas roll along the ring like a paintbrush along a canvas, painting a masterpiece per punch. Equally tricky and illusive, they often break opponents and find the sore sports within each enemy.
Versatility:
Compounding the previous point, Cardenas is a very versatile fighter with the ability to stand and trade akin to the classic Mexican brawler archetype and scour the mid-range with more IQ.
Often, fighters of his ilk can either invest too much in one particular space, whereas Cardenas excels in either.
Ring IQ and Guidance:
The aforementioned IQ is something of praise, as it provides the foundation for Cardenas to be the versatile, combination puncher that he is.
Such guidance, as well as the guidance of Robert Garcia, are vital to his continued development as a ring maestro. As their relationship and bond continue to deepen, Cardenas and Garcia can only benefit.
Youth:
An important addition to the previous point, Cardenas is young. At twenty-four, Cardenas has many, many years as a professional prizefighter to embrace.
As such, not only does this youth give Cardenas the athletic edge to deliver his skills, but it gives the Mexican valuable, valuable time to grow into something special.
Future & Assessment
In many ways, the future is full of opportunity for Arturo Cardenas.
Most immediately of which is Edgar Joe Cortes. Whilst the late replacement is nothing particularly special, the southpaw has lost to other prospects in and around the weight division.
Floyd Diaz (13-0) and Shon Mondragon (8-0-1) have both beaten Cortes with relative ease and could easily collide with Cardenas in a future match-up of prospects Stateside.
After this fight, however, Christian Carto should be the immediate priority. Both men came so close to fighting that it would be more than a shame if they never shared the ring.
Carto would certainly give Cardenas the privilege of highlighting his skills on a future Matchroom programme - presumably rather high in the order, too.
Further into the future, it would be a great leap to see Cardenas share the ring with fellow Mexican Erik Robles Ayala. Very much the traditional Mexican, it would allow Cardenas to demonstrate his ability against an aggravated puncher and provide a serious challenge in competition.
Also on the cards, with discussion of a Matchroom versus Golden Boy 5V5, it might be apt to match Cardenas with Manuel ‘Gucci Manny’ Flores (20-1), one of their more favoured prospects.
Sharp and vicious with the IQ to deliver, Flores and Cardenas would make for a fantastic collision, fuelled by genuine skill and knowledge of ringcraft.
Another potential leap for Cardenas would be previous holder of the WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title, Azat Hovhannisyan (21-5).
A previous world title challenger with viable credentials, it would give Cardenas a route into the genuine world scene that so many great fighters currently occupy.
However, regardless of the future opponent, Cardenas is a wonderful addition to the swath of prospects at the weight and, with guidance, can make a true impression on the scene.
Tale of the Tape
Age: 24
Alias: Popoca
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 121
Reach: N/A
Record: 15-0-1 (8KO)
Residence: Sahuayo de Morelos, Michoacan, Mexico