{"id":710448,"date":"2026-06-02T13:39:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/710448\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:39:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:39:20","slug":"eddie-hearn-maps-out-inoue-rodriguez-timeline-but-one-fighter-could-ruin-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/710448\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie Hearn Maps Out Inoue-Rodriguez Timeline \u2014 But One Fighter Could Ruin It"},"content":{"rendered":"

While heavyweight might draw the most attention in modern boxing, the smaller weights, due to their sheer number of fighters and weight classes, dominate the sport. <\/p>\n

One of boxing’s biggest conversations is the eternal argument over pound-for-pound rankings. In what seems like a consensus, unified super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue comes to mind, and with a spotless record (33-0, 27 KO), Inoue sits high on the pound-for-pound list.<\/p>\n

When elite boxers clean out a division or want to cash a large paycheck, the need to fight each other becomes unavoidable. Throughout Asia, Inoue is the center of the boxing universe. However, Eddie Hearn believes any fight is possible, and he has a specific opponent in mind for Inoue.<\/p>\n

\"Jesse<\/p>\n

IMAGO \/ ZUMA Press Wire<\/p>\n

2026 has been an intriguing year for the sport. Now, Hearn wants to cap the year with a potential classic. Super flyweight champion Jesse ” Bam” Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KO) is his choice for the winter megafight.<\/p>\n

Hearn on Inoue vs Rodriguez<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I think they\u2019re talking about December or January for that fight,” Hearn said on DAZN. “Bam would have six months to wait. It wouldn\u2019t be a problem. Bam loves Japan; he loves it. He goes there on holiday. He doesn’t care where the fight is. Make the fight. It\u2019ll be a tough challenge first, but if he comes through that, Bam vs. Inoue, why wait?”<\/p>\n

In his quote, Hearn mentioned Japan as the likely destination<\/a>, which is something he’s said before. That opens the door to the Tokyo Dome housing the bout in front of 42,000 fans. He will need to craft a slate around the two, assembling an undercard worthy of the main event, which Hearn openly admitted could be an obstacle and a speed bump on the road to Tokyo.<\/p>\n

On June 13, Rodriguez will jump up in weight to face WBA champion Antonio Vargas in Glendale, Ariz. Vargas (19-1-1-1, 11 KO) will enter the fight with a height and reach advantage. Under those circumstances, Rodriguez could be in for a tougher fight than many expect.<\/p>\n

Flashback to Jesse Rodriguez’s destructive stoppage win over Phumelela Cafu last July \ud83d\udca5 <\/p>\n

‘Bam’ will return next month against Antonio Vargas on DAZN, with a possible fight against Naoya Inoue waiting for him \u23ea pic.twitter.com\/jyYqTWyDdY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Hearn doesn’t mince words, as he believes the potential of an Inoue-Rodriguez fight could be historical. At the same time, he warns against taking Vargas for granted.<\/p>\n

“But the world is awaiting it. Probably outside of Fury-AJ, probably the biggest fight out there. Really, with Usyk coming towards the end, it\u2019s going to be pound-for-pound No. 1 against pound-for-pound No. 2. If Bam comes through in Phoenix, he just wants the biggest fights. He doesn\u2019t want to be around for five or six years; he wants to fight everybody now, and now is the time, if he comes through Vargas, for Bam against Inoue. What a fight. The biggest in the lower classes for many, many decades. But Vargas awaits.”<\/p>\n

Before Inoue and Rodriguez commit pen to paper on a contract, Vargas can slide into the conversation by defeating Rodriguez and delaying the fight.<\/p>\n

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