Rumors continue to circulate around a potential next move for Naoya Inoue following his recent win in Tokyo, where he defeated Junto Nakatani to reinforce his position among the sport’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
With the super bantamweight division offering limited new challenges, attention has turned to a possible superfight rather than an immediate move up in weight. Reports suggest that a bout with Jesse Rodriguez is being discussed behind the scenes.
The idea is reportedly being pushed by investors, who view the matchup as a high-level pound-for-pound clash capable of generating major global interest. Early indications point toward a potential January event in Japan, staged at a major venue with The Ring title at stake.
Before any fight can materialize, Rodriguez is expected to face Antonio Vargas in June, which will determine whether the proposed showdown moves forward. If both fighters come through their respective paths, the matchup between Inoue and Rodriguez could emerge as one of the standout fights of the year.
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