Roadmap to Naoya "Monster" Inoue vs. Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by dogcatcher, Jun 20, 2026.


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  1. dogcatcher

    dogcatcher Active Member Full Member

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    What would be the best-case scenario leading up to a possible Inoue vs. Bam super fight?
    What would you folks like to see play out. Here is my suggestion below.

    Super fight in Japan
    Naoya Inoue vs. Jesse Rodriguez (March-June 2027) @122

    Double header in Japan
    Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani II (January 2027) @122
    Jesse Rodriguez vs. Takuma Inoue (January 2027) @118

    Separate events roughly around the same time frame
    Naoya Inoue vs. Sam Goodman (September 2026) @122
    Jesse Rodriguez vs. Christian Medina (September 2026) @118
     
    dogcatcher, Jun 20, 2026
    dogcatcher, Jun 20, 2026
    #1
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  2. Chuck Norris

    Chuck Norris Obsessed with Boxing

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    I rather have Inoue and Rodriguez fight next if possible, be it in December or January. They are both p4p super talents, so why wait?

    Nakatani doesn't deserve a rematch as of now. He needs earn his way for a shot at Inoue.
     
    Chuck Norris, Jun 20, 2026
    Chuck Norris, Jun 20, 2026
    #2
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  3. NoChin

    NoChin Sir Tim Tszyu - Soon to be Knighted! Full Member

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    Inoue would win easily. Bam Bam not in the same stratosphere as the Monster.
     
    NoChin, Jun 21, 2026
    NoChin, Jun 21, 2026
    #3
  4. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

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    Step one is avoiding Shu Shu and Espinoza.
     
    NoNeck, Jun 21, 2026
    NoNeck, Jun 21, 2026
    #4
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  5. ellerbe

    ellerbe Loyal Member Full Member

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    The longer Bam waits the more it benefits him.
     
    ellerbe, Jun 21, 2026
    ellerbe, Jun 21, 2026
    #5
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  6. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Personally I think they should fight next. Having this fight “marinate” is pointless. Why wait it out? Inoue is 33 and already has his sights on 126. He shouldn’t have to wait on Bam.
     
    Last edited: Jun 21, 2026
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2026
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2026
    #6
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  7. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Inoue will be 34 or a couple of months away from turning so at worst by the earliest time this fight comes off so if it's going to happen it has to happen then

    Carrington needs to concentrate on trying to headline his own card for the first time in his his career and beating the other champs at his weight so I propose that he fights Espinoza and then providing Inoue gets past Bam-Rod we see Inoue vs Espinoza for the unified title at 126 after that

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    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    #7
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  8. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Sounds like they’ll have Bam have one or two more fights before February to take on Inoue. I’m curious if Inoue will have a fight take place this year before facing Bam.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2026
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2026
    #8
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  9. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    FTR, this is not a triple jab :facepalm:

    It's a jab, jab, jab :deal:

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    Bam-Rod took a unofficial KD and it was a freaking JTFO KD at that

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    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    #9
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  10. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    Robert Garcia wants Bam-Rod to have one more fight at 118 before facing Inoue, ideally against fellow champ Medina, but who knows maybe they might want another one after that to ensure Inoue is closer to collecting his pension.

    Inoue definitely should fight again before then but I think he should take a relatively softer touch to ensure he doesn't rack up more miles on his odometer
     
    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    #10
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  11. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Maybe a fight between Inoue and Casimero could be made. I would like to see Inoue finally silence Casimero’s die hard supporters.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2026
    Flo_Raiden, Jun 21, 2026
    #11
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  12. Serge

    Serge Ginger Dracula Staff Member

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    I'd like to see him paddle Casimero’s ass for the disrespect he's shown Inoue but he's very big puncher himself and you should generally avoid those when you have superfights or legacy defining fights up next
     
    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    Serge, Jun 21, 2026
    #12
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  13. MidniteProwler

    MidniteProwler Fab 4. Mayor of Aussie Boxing Full Member

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    It needs to happen next Bam is trying to age him out as he loves to fight old men.
     
    MidniteProwler, Jun 21, 2026
    MidniteProwler, Jun 21, 2026
    #13
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  14. LoveThis

    LoveThis Sweet Science Full Member

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    No. I am more of an inoue fan, too - but bam's previous fight showed, that he needs another fight to get accustomed to the weight.

    Going up to face inoue is a massive task. It's like opetaia going up to face usyk.

    I would very much prefer to see the fight next, when inoue is as good as possible, but i want it to be a good rodriguez, too.
     
    LoveThis, Jun 22, 2026
    LoveThis, Jun 22, 2026
    #14
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  15. bandeedo

    bandeedo Loyal Member Full Member

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    fight takuma next. i saw somewhere that he said he wants the smoke. he looked good in his last fight so it would be a good fight. it also creates a story that can be sold to the masses against inoue, should bam win.
    bam needs to go rds. he needs to see how the extra weight feels once fatigue starts to set in. see if he remains fairly whole in a long fight. inoue would not only be the biggest fighter bam has ever fought, but easily the best fighter bam has ever faced. if youre going to take on that big of a task, you need to make sure all bases are covered and youre giving yourself the best chance to be at your best. cause hes going to need to be better than he has ever been.
     
    bandeedo, Jun 22, 2026
    bandeedo, Jun 22, 2026
    #15
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