Naoya Inoue releases statement on Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez fight: “Next year will be full of challenges”

Naoya Inoue has been linked to a fight with fellow multi-divisional world champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez over the past few months, and as hype surrounding that clash builds, Inoue has taken to social media to provide an update.

Inoue defended his undisputed super-bantamweight crown for a seventh time in May as he outpointed Junto Nakatani in the biggest fight in the history of Japanese boxing, but the ever-restless fans were keen for Inoue to be tested once again – calling for a bout with Rodriguez.

‘Bam’ has only just moved into the bantamweight division, where he dethroned Antonio Vargas on his divisional debut to capture the WBA world title, but it seems as though the Texan wants one more outing at 118lbs before moving up again and challenging Inoue.

Reports now suggest that Rodriguez could face WBO bantamweight world champion Christian Medina in a title unification before colliding with Inoue, who has warned that he will wait no longer than March for his showdown with ‘Bam’, threatening to move on and up to featherweight.

Posting on X, ‘The Monster’ has now provided a big update on his plans, revealing that he has begun sparring in the gym and that he is preparing to either face Rodriguez or move up to featherweight in his next bout.

今日から拓真のパートナーで来ているメキシカン相手にスパーリングを開始しました。
スーパーバンタム級に留まり噂されている一戦をやるかフェザー級に挑戦かどちらに転んでもいいよう上げて行きます。
どのみち来年は挑戦の年。
ボクシングキャリアが終わる最後まで挑戦し続ける姿を見せたい。

— 井上尚弥 Naoya Inoue (@naoyainoue_410) August 20, 2026

“Starting today, I began sparring sessions with the Mexican fighter who has come as Takuma’s partner.  

“I’m staying at super bantamweight to prepare for the rumoured big fight, or challenging for featherweight—whichever way it goes, I’ll keep building up.  

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“Either way, next year will be the year of challenges. I want to show the figure of someone who keeps challenging right up to the end of my boxing career.”

Rodriguez-Medina now seems to be the only stumbling block to a fight between Inoue and Rodriguez, with the Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli undercard on Saturday, October 31, being one potential date that the bantamweight unification contest could land on.