Inoue's Promoter Confirms 'Big Fight' In Motion

Naoya Inoue's next big fight is already in motion — and the timing points directly at Jesse Rodriguez.

Inoue's promoter Hideyuki Ohashi revealed this week that a significant bout is locked in for February 2027, with another high-profile occasion at an "extraordinary place" to follow shortly after.

"There's the December matchmaking we're working on right now. Then next February, if I say there's a big fight, you'll probably know what I'm talking about. That's already in motion. After that, we'll do another one in an extraordinary place," Ohashi said

Rodriguez stopped Antonio Vargas last month to claim the WBA bantamweight title, becoming a three-division world champion at 26 and immediately calling for the Inoue fight in his post-victory interview.

The pieces align. Rodriguez fights once more at bantamweight, likely in the autumn. Inoue handles his December matchmaking at super bantamweight. The two unbeaten champions — one the undisputed king of 122, the other a three-division titleholder fresh off a statement performance — meet in February 2027 for what would be one of the most anticipated fights in the sport.

The "extraordinary place" mentioned for the fight after February adds intrigue beyond the opponent question. Inoue has fought in Japan, Las Vegas, and at the Sphere — a promoter using that phrase unprompted is either describing a venue already secured or one advanced enough in discussions to warrant the language.