Eddie Hearn discusses potential Inoue vs Rodriguez fight in late 2026

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - NOVEMBER 22: (L-R) Promoter Eddie Hearn poses with Jesse Rodriguez after defeating Fernando Martinez by KO in a WBC, WBO, and WBA super flyweight title fight during Ring IV: Night of the Champions at ANB Arena on November 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images) | Getty Images Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn says the talk of pitting Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez against Naoya Inoue in a huge pound-for-pound showdown is very real, and could even happen this year. Hearn doesn’t want to ignore that Rodriguez is moving up to bantamweight to face WBA titleholder Antonio Vargas first on June 13, which he contends is not an easy fight. But if Rodriguez does get through it as expected, then a move to super bantamweight to fight Inoue would be next. “The move to bantamweight sets that fight up perfectly. We keep talking about what’s next — he’s got to come through Antonio Vargas, the (WBA) champion, on June 13th. That’s a really, really tough fight,” Hearn said tonight on DAZN. “But the world is awaiting (Inoue vs Bam). Probably outside of Fury-AJ, (it’s) probably the biggest fight out there. Really, with Usyk coming towards the end, it’s gonna be pound-for-pound No. 1 vs pound-for-pound No. 2. If Bam comes through in Phoenix, he just wants the biggest fights.” Hearn says Rodriguez is not looking to “marinate” any fights or hang around the sport forever picking and choosing when to have tough bouts; he wants them all as soon as they can happen. “(Bam) doesn’t 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.” Hearn also says that Turki Alalshikh has already discussed the idea, and would be looking to put it on in late 2026 or early 2027. “Yeah, I think they’re talking about December or January for that fight. Bam would have six months to wait. It wouldn’t be a problem. Bam loves Japan, he loves it. He goes there on holiday! He don’t care where the fight is. Make the fight. It’ll be a tough challenge first (against Vargas), but if he comes through that, Bam vs Inoue, why wait?”

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Eddie Hearn says Naoya Inoue vs Bam Rodriguez may well happen in 2026