Inoue-Rodriguez In Jeopardy

A potential fight between Naoya Inoue and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez appears to be in danger.

Inoue’s team has ruled out April or May for the undisputed bantamweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super bantamweight champion, saying his next fight will come in February or March 2027 at the latest. Rodriguez’s trainer, Robert Garcia, says his fighter is aiming for April or May.

Rodriguez won the WBA bantamweight title in June by stopping Antonio Vargas in round six. His team is interested in another 118-pound fight, possibly against WBO champion Christian Medina, before moving up to meet Inoue at 122.

Inoue last fought in May, beating Junto Nakatani by decision to retain his undisputed title.