Inoue vs Bam Rodríguez: Rodríguez camp offers March – Hearn: “Who's waiting?”
After Naoya Inoue said he would not wait around for Bam, Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez's camp says a March fight is possible. Before that, Rodríguez is due to fight again in 2026.
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On Tuesday Naoya Inoue wrote on X: “I'm not gonna sit around waiting for Bam,” adding that he is starting preparation for featherweight too. Robert Garcia, trainer of WBA bantamweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez, responded via The Ring: “Bam is ready. I've talked to Bam, and he's ready to do it in March.” Nobody from Inoue's side has approached them about negotiations, he said.
Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn wrote on social media: “Who's waiting?” and “You said you are fighting in February/March? We are ready.” According to The Ring, DAZN has greenlit negotiations and Netflix has shown interest, while Turki Alalshikh suggested a January date in Japan.
First, Garcia said, Rodríguez must fight again this year under his contract. The plan is a fight with WBO champion Christian Medina, which Matchroom is trying to place on the Fury vs Joshua card on 11 December or on 19 December.