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 struggle for him will probably be contested two divisions above the place he at present competes.
The San Antonio native envisions boxing within the 122-pound weight class by someday early in 2026. Sooner or later thereafter, Rodriguez expects to struggle 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, advised Boxing Information lately that Inoue-Nakatani would be the greatest struggle 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 struggle for Inoue’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 122-pound crowns inside the second half of 2025.
Rodriguez predicted throughout a latest interview with Boxing Information that Inoue will defeat Nakatani, which might allow the robust 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, ultimately the struggle will occur.”
Like Inoue, Rodriguez has established himself as among the finest boxers, pound-for-pound, within the sport.
Rodriguez (21-0, 14 KOs) dropped Mexican contender Pedro Guevara (42-5-1, 22 KOs) twice in the course of 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 in opposition to Australia’s Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on December 24 at Ariake Area 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 powerful struggle,” Rodriguez mentioned. “Inoue is a good fighter. Nakatani is a good fighter as nicely. However I really feel Inoue may need a little bit edge on the expertise half, so I really feel like perhaps which may play a component. I actually assume Inoue would win that struggle, if it have been to occur proper now.”
Japan’s Junto Nakatani (L) fights in opposition to 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 by way of Getty Pictures)
As Inoue and Nakatani proceed on their collision course, Rodriguez will deal with securing a title unification struggle within the 115-pound division and/or transferring up three kilos to land a bantamweight title shot.
“Hopefully, I can get a unification struggle at 115 early subsequent yr, seeing how the division performs out with that,” Rodriguez mentioned. “And if not, I’ll transfer as much as 118 to start out 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 previous. I nonetheless have a lotta fights to go, so there’s actually no rush for that.”
