One of the best bouts that boxing can book, according to Matchroom chairman, Eddie Hearn, is one that involves arguably his biggest US-facing star, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, and fellow pound-for-pound sensation, Naoya Inoue.
Both fighters are widely regarded by consensus to be the best in the sport, regardless of weight class, with Rodriguez dominating the lighter weight classes with big wins over Fernando Martinez, Sunny Edwards, and Wisaksil Wangek, among others.
Inoue, too, is a force, with thumping victories over Jason Moloney, Nonito Donaire, Stephen Fulton, Luis Nery, and Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
The Japanese puncher is next in action May 2 against Junto Nakatani — one of the best fights in Japanese boxing history, taking place at the Tokyo Dome, atop a DAZN card. Regardless of result, Hearn eyes a future fight involving Inoue and ‘Bam’. He even said there’s been preliminary talks with the sport’s financier Turki Alalshikh.
“There have been some early preliminary discussions with His Excellency about Inoue against Bam,” Hearn said, according to Ring Magazine.
“I do think that fight is inevitable.”
— Hearn on Inoue vs ‘Bam’
Rodriguez also has a more pressing challenge as he moves to bantamweight to challenge the WBA champion, Antonio Vargas. Even if successful, it’s unlikely Rodriguez would fight Inoue next.
But, as ‘Bam’ fights twice a year on average, it’s a bout that could, possibly, take place at the end of next year, if not the start of 2028, per Hearn’s own timeline.
“I don’t think it’s going to be necessarily straight after the Vargas fight,” he said, “but it could be as quick as in the next two or three fights.
“It’s probably one of the biggest fights in boxing,” Hearn finished. “It’s one that Bam likes the idea of.”
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