Sampson Lewkowicz, Cardenas' promoter, has confirmed to The Ring that a verbal agreement is in place for his client to fight Junto Nakatani, our No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter

“We have a verbal agreement with Mr. Honda (Akihiko Honda, Nakatani’s promoter),” Lewkowicz said. “The fight will likely take place in the first quarter of 2027. It’s a great fight. Both fighters are power punchers. It should be a good one with a lot of action.”

Nakatani (32-1, 24 KOs) , 28, is hoping to get back in the win column after losing for the first time in his career on May 2. The southpaw lost by unanimous decision to compatriot Naoya Inoue at Tokyo Dome and suffered a broken orbital bone for his troubles.

Nakatani would still be a sizable favorite against Cardenas, who lost to Inoue himself by eighth-round TKO in 2025, despite scoring a knockdown over The Ring's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

Cardenas (28-2, 15 KOs), 31, has won twice since then, knocking out Erik Robles in December and outpointing Leonardo Carrillo in August.