Recently, DAZN commentator Chris Mannix shared his insights at a roundtable hosted by the platform, discussing the possibility that the clash between Naoya Inoue and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez could happen sooner than expected. The anticipated fight between Rodriguez and Inoue is shaping up to be a monumental event in the boxing world.
Fans and experts alike eagerly await the potential showdown between two of the top pound-for-pound fighters. Meanwhile, Rodriguez, a two-division world champion, will return to the ring on November 9 to defend his WBC super flyweight title.
The 24-year-old American fighter will face Pedro Guevara in Philadelphia, marking his second fight of 2024. With an impressive record in his young career, Rodriguez has captured and unified titles at a rapid pace, solidifying himself as one of the sport’s most promising talents. Should he defeat Guevara, Rodriguez could have a 2025 filled with opportunities for big fights and new titles.
The bout between Rodriguez and Guevara will be part of an exciting fight card, with IBF welterweight champion Jaron Ennis facing Karen Chukhadzhian in the main event of the evening.
However, the fight everyone wants to see is between Rodriguez and the undisputed super bantamweight champion, Naoya Inoue. This bout would be the ultimate test for both, representing a challenge for the young prodigy and the fearsome Japanese knockout artist.
Mannix explained that the path to this matchup is clear. According to him, the key to this superfight is for Rodriguez to move closer to the 118-pound weight class, where Naoya Inoue could also compete. “He’s [Rodriguez] at 115, he’s trying to unify, Inoue’s at 122, there’s got to be a bridge there. He’s got to get to 118 pounds,” Mannix stated.
Additionally, Mannix noted that the upcoming rematch between Puma Martinez and Kazuto Ioka could serve as a preliminary step for Rodriguez. If he wins that fight, Rodriguez would have the chance to unify three belts, and afterward, he could move up to 118 pounds. Mannix pointed out that Rodriguez doesn’t need to pursue all the belts in his current category, as the main goal is the matchup with Inoue.
“I think the end of 2025 is where the sweet spot is, Bam Rodriguez will be a four-division world champion and Inoue is the undisputed champion at 122 and they can meet at that weight,” Mannix concluded.
Fans’ attention will be centered on Philadelphia, where Rodriguez aims to solidify his position and, eventually, pave the way to a dream fight against Naoya Inoue.
🇺🇸 𝙁𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙆 𝙄𝙉 𝙋𝙃𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙔 👑
Two superstars of the sport, @JaronEnnis & @210bam defend world titles on a stacked card in Philadelphia 🤩#EnnisChukhadzhian | Nov 9 | #RodriguezGuevara | Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/1ormXJBKcZ
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 4, 2024
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