If Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez is to step up and take on Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue, as reports have suggested is the plan, then he will go and do it in the “Monster’s” backyard.
First, of course, the brilliant 23-0 (16 KOs) Texan Rodriguez is moving up to bantamweight to face Antonio Vargas, 19-1-1 (11 KOs), on June 13 in Glendale, Arizona and while some are keen to discount Vargas, promoter Eddie Hearn is not looking too far ahead.
“I represent Vargas as well, so it’s not really fair to start talking about that fight [Inoue-Bam], but people are going to talk about that fight because they’ve talked about it for years," Hearn told BoxingScene.
“And with him [Rodriguez] moving up another weight class, it gives them even more reason to talk about it. And I think if he wins on June 13, I think it’s inevitable. Bam is an incredible young man where he wants to move so quick. He’s not someone that wants to be around having loads of voluntary defenses and fighting in eight years’ time. He wants to get in now. “He feels like right now he's in his absolute prime, which he is. So I think that he's got to try and beat Vargas, which is not going to be easy. And if he does that and he feels good at 118lbs, you’ve got to hurry up and make the Inoue fight, because sooner or later Inoue will move to 126lbs and then it will be over. You're talking really once Usyk goes, which probably won't be long, it's number one and number two pound for pound in the sport.”
Is it a fight for Japan, Hearn was asked?
“Yes. Without a shadow of a doubt.”
Inoue, 33-0 (27 KOs), is fresh off a unanimous 12-round decision victory over countryman Junto Nakatani. It took place in Tokyo, Japan, and is widely regarded as the biggest fight in the country's history.
