Eddie Hearn labels a match between Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue as a “Fantasy struggle,” however he doubts it’ll ever occur attributable to how far aside the 2 fighters are in weight.
(Photograph credit score: Sumio Yamada)
Weight Class Distinction a Hurdle
The promoter Hearn feels that by the point ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) strikes as much as tremendous bantamweight [122], the Japanese star Inoue may have already moved as much as featherweight [126].
For that struggle to occur, Bam might want to take a threat by transferring as much as tremendous bantamweight now, which he can actually do, given his measurement. It will be a giant leap when it comes to competitors for the 24-year-old Rodriguez, and that will be the onerous half.
Dimension-wise, Bam might simply transfer as much as 122 proper now as a result of he appeared like a full-fledged featherweight contained in the ring final Saturday evening in his struggle towards WBC tremendous flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada on the Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona. Bam dispatched the 34-year-old Estrada within the seventh spherical with a physique shot.
Estrada (44-4, 28 KOs) has a rematch clause for his struggle with Bam Rodriguez, and Hearn believes he would possibly use it to power a second match. If Bam desires to struggle Inoue, the good factor can be to get the rematch out of the way in which with Estrada after which transfer as much as 122 to attempt to get the mega-fight with the Japanese star.
Bam’s Potential Leap to Tremendous Bantamweight
“Jesse vs. Inoue is a fantasy struggle. It’s additionally an unimaginable struggle. You’re speaking a few man [Bam Rodriguez] who has come up from mild flyweight. He’s at the moment at tremendous flyweight, and he’ll positively go to bantam,” stated Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, discussing the potential for a struggle between Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue.
“I’m certain he’ll go to tremendous bantamweight in time, however they’ll in all probability find yourself lacking one another, however who is aware of? If Inoue stays at 122 for the subsequent couple of years, Jesse will meet him there. Yeah, in all probability a fantasy struggle for now, however what a fantasy struggle it will be,” stated Hearn a few struggle between Inoue and Bam Rodriguez,” stated Hearn.
If Bam Rodriguez desires the Inoue struggle, he’d be higher off leaping to 122 after his potential rematch with Juan Estrada. There aren’t any massive names for Bam to struggle at 115 or 118 that the boxing public in the uswould take discover of.
At the very least if Bam fought Inoue now, it will be a giant struggle in Japan and the U.S. It will be brave of Bam to make the transfer now moderately than in two to 4 years.
“I felt Bam dominated the primary a part of the struggle, however then Estrada got here again with the knockdown [in round six] after which turned the struggle on its head,” stated Hearn. “Estrada was within the struggle, however then unexpectedly, the physique shot was completely completely positioned. He couldn’t stand up, couldn’t breathe.”
Estrada appeared skinny and emaciated for the struggle, and he wasn’t almost at his greatest. 115 is not a very good weight division for Estrada. He wants to maneuver as much as bantamweight or tremendous bantamweight [118 or 122], and make life simpler for him.
“It was a surprising end, gorgeous knockout to a surprising struggle, and wild scorecards as properly. I don’t agree with, but it surely reveals you ways aggressive the struggle was and the way dramatic the struggle was. I’d have really favored to have seen the struggle go down the straight, however perhaps we’ll see that subsequent time,” stated Hearn.
Estrada fought properly at occasions, however he wasn’t constant sufficient to succeed towards the larger, stronger, and youthful Bam Rodriguez.
