By Keith Idec
PHILADELPHIA – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez hasn’t moved as much as the 118-pound division but, however the unbeaten WBC tremendous flyweight champion understands that the largest battle for him shall be contested two divisions above the place he at the moment competes.
The San Antonio native envisions boxing within the 122-pound weight class by someday early in 2026. At some point thereafter, Rodriguez expects to battle the winner of the extremely anticipated showdown between Japanese champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani.
Prime Rank founder Bob Arum, whose firm co-promotes Inoue and Nakatani, instructed Boxing Information lately that Inoue-Nakatani would be the largest battle in Japanese boxing historical past. Assuming Nakatani, who owns the WBO 118-pound championship, strikes up from the bantamweight division and each boxers proceed to win, Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) and Nakatani (29-0, 22 KOs) may battle for Inoue’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 122-pound crowns throughout the second half of 2025.
Rodriguez predicted throughout a current interview with Boxing Information that Inoue will defeat Nakatani, which might allow the sturdy southpaw to safe his personal encounter with Inoue if he, too, retains successful.
“Actually, the hype’s already there,” Rodriguez mentioned. “A lotta individuals talk about it already, so I really feel like if I proceed what I’m doing, finally the battle will occur.”
Like Inoue, Rodriguez has established himself as the most effective boxers, pound-for-pound, within the sport.
Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) dropped Mexican contender Pedro Guevara (42-5-1, 22 KOs) twice throughout the third spherical and stopped him on the Jaron Ennis-Karen Chukhadzhian undercard Saturday evening at Wells Fargo Heart. Inoue is scheduled to defend his 4 titles towards Australia’s Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on December 24 at Ariake Enviornment in Tokyo.
Nakatani, a taller southpaw with extra energy, will give Inoue extra problem than Goodman, in accordance with Rodriguez.
“I imply, that’s a extremely robust battle,” Rodriguez mentioned. “Inoue is a good fighter. Nakatani is a good fighter as properly. However I really feel Inoue may need a bit of edge on the expertise half, so I really feel like perhaps that may play an element. I actually suppose Inoue would win that battle, if it had been to occur proper now.”
Japan’s Junto Nakatani (L) fights towards Mexico’s Alexandro Santiago throughout their WBC Bantam Weight championship boxing bout in Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on February 24, 2024. (Picture by Philip FONG / AFP) (Picture by PHILIP FONG/AFP through Getty Photos)
As Inoue and Nakatani proceed on their collision course, Rodriguez will concentrate on securing a title unification battle within the 115-pound division and/or shifting up three kilos to land a bantamweight title shot.
“Hopefully, I can get a unification battle at 115 early subsequent 12 months, seeing how the division performs out with that,” Rodriguez mentioned. “And if not, I’ll transfer as much as 118 to begin my journey there in mid-2025. There’s a lotta fights that may be made at 118, so I imply, there’s a lotta time [to move up to 122 pounds]. I’m solely 24 years outdated. I nonetheless have a lotta fights to go, so there’s actually no rush for that.”
