Naoya Inoue vs Bam Rodriguez talks underway as Eddie Hearn calls fight inevitable

Hearn says early discussions underway as both champions prepare for upcoming fights in separate divisions

Naoya Inoue and Jesse Rodriguez are in early talks for a potential fight, according to Eddie Hearn. The matchup depends on both champions winning their upcoming bouts in separate weight classes.
Hearn said talks have started with Turki Alalshikh about matching Inoue with Rodriguez, and that he believes the bout is likely to happen once both men handle their next assignments.

“There have been some early preliminary conversations about Inoue against Bam, and I do think that fight is inevitable,” Hearn said to Matchroom Boxing.

With Turki Alalshikh involved, the chances of it moving from fantasy to reality are significantly higher than they were for Joshua vs. Fury. Unlike the Heavyweight duo, who spent years posturing, Inoue and Rodriguez are currently at the absolute peak of their activity.

Eddie Hearn’s optimism usually needs to be taken with a grain of salt, but the inclusion of Turki Alalshikh changes the math. Alalshikh has a track record of cutting through the promotional red tape that typically stalls these mega-fights.

Rodriguez is moving to bantamweight (118) for Antonio Vargas in June, while Inoue is at super bantamweight (122).

Inoue-Bam is a legacy fight that carries massive weight in the US and Japan. Alalshikh specializes in funding these specific cross-promotional super-bouts.

Inoue turned 33 this April, and in the lower weight classes, that is historically the twilight of a prime. We saw Luis Nery drop him in 2024, the first time Inoue had ever touched the canvas. While he roared back to win by KO, it was a signal that the invincible aura is starting to show small cracks.

Inoue has a major task ahead when he meets Junto Nakatani in an all-Japan undisputed super bantamweight clash at the Tokyo Dome on May 2.

Nakatani is arguably the most dangerous opponent Inoue has ever faced. He is younger, taller, and carries massive power. If Inoue loses here, the Rodriguez fight loses its super-bout status and likely moves to the back burner.

While the bleached blond hair of Inoue has been his signature style for years, many boxers use the platinum look as they get older to mask the natural aging process. Whether it’s a style choice or a tactical cover-up, it reflects a fighter who is very aware of his image as he moves into the elder statesman phase of his career.

If Inoue gets past Nakatani on May 2, the momentum for the Rodriguez fight will be a freight train. If he struggles or loses, we might look back at this Hearn announcement as just another promotional “what if.”

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