Leigh Dawney / Queensberry PromotionsDespite having his next bout booked in, it is clear that Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is already aware of what will follow it: A mega fight with Naoya Inoue.
Talk of a clash between Rodriguez and Inoue reached new heights following Inoue’s victory over Junto Nakatani in Tokyo earlier this month. Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh was in attendance and declared his desire to make a bout between the undisputed 122lb champion Inoue and two-division titleholder Rodriguez in January 2027 in Japan.
Both fighters have since admitted their openness to facing off with the other, but Rodriguez must first get past WBA secondary beltholder Antonio Vargas on June 13 in Phoenix, Arizona. Rodriguez will be making his debut in the bantamweight division and will be moving up again to face Inoue. Rodriguez’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, believes should his man defeat Vargas, then Rodriguez will make a move to push for Inoue next.
“I mean outside of Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury I think it’s the biggest fight in boxing,” Hearn told DAZN. “I think it’s the best fight in boxing in terms of the ability and the prime of both men. It is a massive fight and it’s the biggest fight between those kinds of weight classes and three or four [divisions] upwards for years and years.
“We are ready. Listen, Vargas has got a lot to say. There is a massive crowd coming to Phoenix on June 13. It’s a massive moment for [Rodriguez]. If he wins he’ll be calling out Naoya Inoue. We’re ready to make it happen.”
