Bam says beating Takuma Inoue first would create the perfect storyline before facing Naoya Inoue

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez says a future fight with Naoya Inoue may be inevitable, but he already has a preferred route to get there. The unified champion believes beating Takuma Inoue first would create the ideal storyline before a showdown with the unbeaten Japanese star.

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“I think that’s a perfect storyline to the fight,” Rodriguez said in an interview with Ring Magazine’s Manouk Akopyan. “Beating his brother first. I think that’s like almost the perfect storyline to the Inoue fight, beating his brother first and then going and fighting the second brother.”

Rodriguez was referring to WBC bantamweight champion Takuma Inoue, the younger brother of Naoya Inoue.

The unified junior bantamweight champion is set to move up in weight this weekend when he faces Vargas at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. While Bam acknowledged he has a difficult assignment ahead of him, he indicated that discussions about future opponents can wait until after the fight.

“I know when that Inoue fight does happen, then the fans are in for a great night of boxing,” Jesse continued. “People are already talking about that fight so much that it’s inevitable at this point. And I feel like when the time comes, it’s going to be a great fight, probably one of the best fights in boxing history.”

Before any potential clash with either Inoue brother can be explored, Rodriguez must first get past Vargas. A victory would make Rodriguez a three-division world champion and could open the door to several major fights at bantamweight and beyond.

Rodriguez remains focused on capturing another world title, but he made it clear that a future showdown with Naoya Inoue is already on his radar.