{"id":518133,"date":"2026-03-04T12:54:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T12:54:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/518133\/"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T12:54:13","slug":"bam-rodriguez-ready-to-ignite-inoue-rivalry-by-blasting-brother-takuma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/518133\/","title":{"rendered":"Bam Rodriguez ready to ignite Inoue rivalry by blasting brother Takuma"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cHe’s so close to becoming the undisputed junior bantamweight champion, and we want that. It’s worth it, if it works out. But sooner or later, we’re moving up to bantamweight,\u201d Rodriguez\u2019s career-long coach and manager Robert Garcia told The Ring<\/a>. \u201cThe best fight to make for Bam at 118 right now is against the WBC champion, Takuma Inoue.\u201dRodriguez<\/a> (23-0, 16 KOs) is The Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO 115-pound champion and The Ring\u2019s No. 4-ranked pound-for-pound fighter. Rodriguez has some pivotal decisions to make, and time could be his biggest opponent if he ends up waiting for a shot to collect the last remaining crown in the division. Willibaldo Garcia, the IBF titleholder, remains bound to a mandatory title defense against Andrew Moloney<\/a>. Garcia was granted a voluntary title defense against Kenshiro Teraji in December but fell ill on the day of the weigh-in and pulled out of the fight. Garcia must now move back to Moloney, who has no interest in stepping aside.<\/p>\n

In the midst of making a move on an opponent, Rodrigu ez recently received a contract offer from Zuffa Boxing. Rodriguez has been promoted by Matchroom Boxing over the last five years. <\/p>\n

If undisputed plans fall by the wayside, Robert Garcia has grandiose visions for Rodriguez at 118 pounds. He said that if Rodriguez were to face Inoue, the \u201cMexico vs. The World\u201d card headlined by Canelo Alvarez on September 12 in Saudi Arabia<\/a> would be the perfect stage. <\/p>\n

Rodriguez, a 26-year-old Mexican-American born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, certainly qualifies as a tremendous candidate for the showcase opportunity. <\/p>\n

\u201cOh my God, that would be awesome, to fight Takuma Inoue on the Mexico vs. The World card. That would be unbelievable,\u201d said Garcia. \u201cIt doesn’t matter where we fight. We can fight Inoue in Japan, too. Bam loves Japan and vacations there after his fights. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat would be very exciting, to beat Takuma and then face the brother, Naoya, in a big fight. That’s a great fight and a great plan to look forward to and very well could be a possibility \u2026 The biggest challenge for Bam in the future is Naoya Inoue. He’s not going to hold back too long before going up against someone like him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

But for now, Bam must take care of other business this summer before a tantalizing Inoue encounter can take place. <\/p>\n

Over the weekend, Matchroom head Eddie Hearn said he was planning to bring Rodriguez back by early June for another homecoming. The top candidate they\u2019ve zeroed in on, for now, is WBO bantamweight champion Christian Medina. <\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe he\u2019ll return to 115 pounds after and fight for undisputed,\u201d said Hearn. \u201cBut it\u2019s going to be difficult to fight that fight [against Willibaldo Garcia] next, unless it happens very quickly. If we can find a way to do an undisputed title fight, that would be great.\u201d <\/p>\n

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring\u2019s lead writer. Follow him on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>: @ManoukAkopyan.