David Cardenas may be fighting at home in San Antonio, Texas, this Saturday, but his ambitions stretch beyond the Alzafar Shrine and his local opponent.
Cardenas will face veteran and fellow San Antonian Robert Ledesma, 37, who holds a record of 3-13-1 (2 KOs), in a flyweight bout broadcast on KSAT.com, the local news station’s website. Fighting at 112lbs, Cardenas admitted, is more of a necessity than a preference.
“This fight is at 112 because it’s harder to find 105- or 108-pounders here in Texas,” Cardenas told BoxingScene. “Once we start traveling, I’ll drop down. But for now, it’s easier to stay at flyweight.”
Cardenas, 20, is 8-0 (6 KOs) and riding a three-fight knockout streak. He hopes to maintain his momentum with another highlight-worthy performance in front of his hometown fans.
“The important thing about this fight is just getting better, looking better than my last fight,” Cardenas said. “Every time I fight here, I want the fans to come back excited to watch me again. That’s the goal.”
Despite his youth, Cardenas believes big things are close at hand, and given the weight class he occupies and the lack of depth in his division in the United States, that very well could be true.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’m that far from a title shot,” he said. “But it’s about staying the course and listening to my team.”
Cardenas says his long-term goal is to make a name for himself at 105lbs, a division he believes will showcase his full potential.
“Really, 112 isn’t my weight. My goal is to go down to 105,” Cardenas said. “It’s not a bad weight cut – I’ve been as low as 110 – but finding opponents at 105 is tough.”
As for the here and now, Cardenas feels primed for Saturday’s clash, with his weight already close to target.
“I’m four days out from weigh-ins, and I’m at 115.5lbs after eating,” Cardenas said. “I walk around at 120, maybe 121 max.”
With a future that holds the promise of bigger stages and tougher tests, Cardenas is determined to make his mark.
“I’m ready to show everyone what I’ve got,” Cardenas said.
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and author of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (available on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
