Rodriguez called Inoue’s Tokyo Dome performance one of the best wins of the undisputed champion’s career

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez believes Naoya Inoue delivered one of the strongest performances of his career by defeating previously unbeaten Junto Nakatani earlier this month in Tokyo. Rodriguez also admitted a future fight between the two pound-for-pound stars now feels “inevitable” if both continue winning.

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Rodriguez, who faces WBA bantamweight champion Antonio Vargas on June 13 in Glendale, Arizona, was asked this week how he rated Inoue’s performance against the previously unbeaten Nakatani.

“I believe he did a great job. A-plus performance,” said Bam said to Fight Hub TV. “He beat another pound-for-pound fighter in Nakatani. So I think that’s one of his best wins.”

Bam was also asked about the growing discussion surrounding a possible future fight between the two pound-for-pound stars. While he acknowledged the interest surrounding the matchup, he said his attention remains fixed on Vargas.

“I stay focused one fight at a time. It’s always been my mentality,” said Rodriguez. “People are talking about the Inoue fight so much, but that fight will never even happen if I don’t get past this one. So I know this is the main goal right now, to get the win.”

Bam said that he still expects a fight with Inoue to eventually happen if both continue winning in their upcoming bouts.

“I think that fight is inevitable,” said Rodriguez. “But like I said, one fight at a time. I got to get past Vargas, and then we can talk about it more, but the main goal right now is Vargas.”

Rodriguez will attempt to become a three-division world champion when he faces Vargas next month.