Bam Rodriguez eyes Takuma Inoue bout before Naoya showdown

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez could face Takuma Inoue before meeting the Japanese star's more famous brother, according to trainer Robert Garcia's proposed roadmap.

Rodriguez challenges Antonio Vargas for the WBA bantamweight title this Saturday, but attention has already shifted to what comes after. Promoter Eddie Hearn wants Naoya Inoue next — the undisputed champion widely rated among boxing's pound-for-pound elite — though Garcia floated an alternative that Rodriguez himself endorsed in comments to The Ring's Manouk Akopyan.

Why Rodriguez vs Takuma Inoue makes sense as Naoya stepping stone

"I think that's, like, almost the perfect storyline, beating his brother and then going in and fighting the second brother," Rodriguez said, per Bad Left Hook, while stressing his focus remains on Vargas. "I just need to stay focused on this fight, man. It's a tough fight that I have in front of me. I know I can get the job done. I will get the job done. After that, we can talk about the future."

Takuma holds the WBC strap at 118 pounds with a 22-2 record but lacks Naoya's knockout power and speed. Both brothers rely on clean fundamentals, though Naoya's athletic gifts put him in a different class. Rodriguez acknowledged Takuma would serve more as storyline fuel than fight preparation — then again, no opponent truly replicates what Naoya brings.

Rodriguez also mentioned Junto Nakatani, who pushed Naoya hard in May, as another option. But the Naoya fight is what fans keep asking about. "I know when that Inoue fight does happen, the fans are in for a great night of boxing," Rodriguez said. "People are already talking about that fight so much that it's inevitable at this point. When the time comes, it's gonna be a great fight, probably one of the best fights in boxing history."

Rodriguez faces Vargas on June 13, with a win moving him to three-division champion and clearing the path for whichever Inoue brother comes next.

Photo: 内閣官房内閣広報室 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0

Original reporting:

• badlefthook.com — Bam Rodriguez may face Takuma Inoue before Naoya: ‘Perfect storyline’ | Bad Left Hook