The stock of Ramon Cardenas has risen sky high since an incredibly valiant performance in a loss to Naoya Inoue in May.

Despite being an unknown commodity as a massive underdog, Cardenas came in as the WBA's No. 1 contender and proved that he belonged against the pound-for-pound great by dropping Inoue in the second round before eventually getting stopped in the eighth in a fight-of-the-year candidate.

Cardenas is considering a world of options for his return bout, and one fight that he’s particularly interested in is against Junto Nakatani and welcoming the unified bantamweight champion to the 122-pound division during the planned Japan vs. Mexico card on Dec. 27 in Saudi Arabia. The Riyadh Season event is slated to be headlined by the undisputed junior featherweight king Inoue taking on Mexican challenger David Picasso.

Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs), a 29-year-old from San Antonio, Texas, with Mexican roots, would be a highly appropriate litmus test for Nakatani on the card ahead of his planned fight against Inoue in 2026.

“I think it would make sense from Nakatani's end for them to want to fight me, if they want to test themselves against someone who gave Inoue a good fight,” Cardenas told The Ring. “He's a hell of a fighter and a three-division world champion for a reason. But I'm not a gatekeeper for anybody, so if the fight and opportunity make sense, let's do it. I'm willing to do it.

“I'll fight anybody. It doesn't matter, and everyone realizes that now after the Inoue fight. People are now excited to watch me against anybody because they know I am here to fight and not there to just complacently collect a check. I'm here to win.”

“Dinamita” Cardenas recently traveled to Japan and he said he was recognized nearly a dozen times following the Inoue clash.

“It's been a day and night difference in my life and career since the Inoue fight,” said Cardenas. “People are recognizing me now and asking for pictures. It's a drastic change, but this is everything I wanted and asked for as a kid. It feels good to have a responsibility and to be an example to others. I take it with pride and happiness.”

If a fight against Nakatani doesn’t materialize, Cardenas said he’s also open to facing former Inoue foes and former champions Luis Nery and Marlon Tapales to further prove his showing against The Monster wasn't a fluke.

“I want to win a belt at 122 pounds, but I also know that Inoue is going to stick around in the division,” said Cardenas. “I am also open to moving to 126 pounds because none of the champions in that division are unified, and it's a weight class that’s still not conquered by one fighter. I want to chase champions.”

Cardenas would also very much welcome a rematch against Inoue, but that fight appears unlikely to happen, at least over the next 12 months.

Waiting next for Inoue on Sept. 14 is Murodjon Akhmadaliev, who trains alongside Cardenas with coach Joel Diaz in Indio, California.

“I hope it's a badass fight that the fans can enjoy,” said Cardenas. “I’m super excited for that matchup because I know both guys are coming to fight.”