Eddie Hearn: Bam Rodriguez Will Be P4P No. 1 – But Inoue Fight is Still a Few Steps Away
In a recent interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, Eddie Hearn, promoter of Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, praised the 24-year-old champion for his dominant victory over former world titleholder Pedro Guevara. Hearn was especially impressed by Rodriguez’s performance against Guevara, who had recently secured a significant win over Andrew Moloney in Australia.
Hearn believes that Rodriguez’s talent will quickly push him to the top of boxing’s pound-for-pound rankings: “I really feel like he’s not going to be at super flyweight that long,” Hearn stated. “At just 24, Bam destroyed a former world champion in Guevara, and I think you’re looking at the future pound-for-pound No. 1.”
However, the possibility of a showdown between Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue, the reigning bantamweight king, remains distant for now. Rodriguez himself recently mentioned on The Ariel Helwani Show that the difference in weight classes makes the fight unlikely in the near future, with Inoue fighting at 122 pounds while Rodriguez remains at 115 pounds.
Hearn agreed that moving up in weight too quickly poses a risk for Rodriguez. “The only thing that’s going to beat ‘Bam’ is going too far through the divisions too fast,” Hearn said, acknowledging that jumping weights can often be a stumbling block for younger fighters.
Looking ahead, Hearn suggested that Rodriguez's immediate goal should be to unify titles in the super flyweight division. A potential fight with Román “Chocolatito” González, a future challenge for Rodriguez, could be the key step before making the move to bantamweight. “The next challenge for Bam will be to move to bantamweight and try for a third division world title,” Hearn explained.
Once Rodriguez competes at bantamweight, Hearn believes he will be just one division away from Inoue, making the much-anticipated fight a potential reality. “If Bam stays at 122 pounds, that fight becomes a real big reality,” Hearn noted.
With both fighters being young and talented, Hearn envisions a future where Rodriguez and Inoue face off for the top spot in boxing’s pound-for-pound rankings. “That’s going to be a one vs. two pound-for-pound matchup,” Hearn said. “It’s just an unbelievable fight.”
While Inoue, 31, is widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world, Rodriguez’s rapid rise and skillset suggest that in a few years, he could be right there alongside him. The potential showdown between the two is one that boxing fans are eagerly anticipating.
