Inoue Accepts Challenge, Set to Face Jesse Rodriguez in Mega Fight January 2027
Japan's undefeated champion Naoya Inoue will face rising Mexican-American contender Jesse Rodriguez in January 2027 after Rodriguez moves up two weight divisions to challenge for the super bantamweight titles.
Naoya Inoue, Japan's elite boxer and four-belt world champion, is ready to move forward with a mega fight against rising Mexican-American boxer Jesse Rodriguez in 2027. Inoue recently defended his super bantamweight world titles (122 pounds) in WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF by defeating fellow Japanese fighter Junto Nakatani at Tokyo Dome, extending his undefeated record to 33 fights. Reports indicate his next bout will be against 26-year-old Jesse Rodriguez, a three-belt champion with an unblemished record, who will move up from the junior bantamweight division (115 pounds) to challenge the champion. Rodriguez is scheduled to move up to 118 pounds in June to pursue the WBA bantamweight title against Antonio Vargas before facing Inoue in January 2027. Rodriguez stated, "I believe a fight between me and Inoue would be one of the greatest fights in lower weight class history." Eddie Hearn, Match Room promoter, expressed confidence that "Bam" Jesse Rodriguez could be the one to defeat "The Monster." Hearn said, "I watched Inoue in Saudi Arabia and I've never felt more confident that Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez can beat him. Long ago, I thought this might be too big a step for Jesse, but now that he's moved up to bantamweight, he's bigger and stronger. He might be too good for Inoue now. Bam is 26 while Inoue is 33. I simply don't see how 'Bam' loses to Inoue."
