Ohashi: Inoue-Bam Rodriguez Talks Moving 'Step by Step' Toward March in Tokyo

The superfight that looked close to dying a week ago is back on track, at least according to the man who would stage it. Hideyuki Ohashi, Naoya Inoue's promoter, told reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday that talks for Inoue to face Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez are progressing toward a date in March 2027.

"Negotiations for Inoue's next fight are moving forward, step by step," Ohashi said, as quoted by BoxingScene. "Everything is going well. We are working toward a match in March. Things are progressing steadily, so please look forward to it." Japanese outlets Sports Hochi, Sponichi and Chunichi Sports carried the same remarks, which Ohashi made after a press conference for his gym's Dec. 3 Phoenix Battle card at Korakuen Hall.

Nothing has been signed or announced. No contract, date, venue or broadcaster has been confirmed by either camp. Sponichi and Sankei Sports report that the Tokyo Dome is viewed as the likely venue, but that has not been confirmed by Ohashi or Matchroom, which co-promotes Rodriguez.

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How the deal nearly fell apart

The fight between The Ring's No. 1 and No. 4 pound-for-pound fighters stalled this month over one question: whether Rodriguez would take another fight first. Rodriguez (24-0, 17 KOs), who won the WBA bantamweight title by stopping Antonio Vargas in the sixth round on June 13 in Glendale, Ariz., was in talks to face WBO bantamweight champion Christian Medina on Dec. 11 before moving up to 122 pounds. That fight has not been officially announced.

Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs), the undisputed junior featherweight champion, shut that idea down on Oct. 22. Speaking in Tokyo, he said fighting in December and then again in March was "not realistic," that the only way the fight happens is "direct," and that if Rodriguez's side says no, he will move up to featherweight. Matchroom CEO Frank Smith said around the same time that the interim fight was "50-50" and that a decision had to come within a week.

Since then, the Rodriguez camp has moved toward Inoue's terms. Matchroom's Eddie Hearn has said his side was waiting on an offer and was willing to go straight into a March fight. On Oct. 24, John Lewis, speaking for Inoue's side, told The Ring: "I'm working with Matchroom to make it happen. Both fighters want it."

Ohashi answers Robert Garcia

The same week, Rodriguez's trainer and manager Robert Garcia told BoxingScene that Inoue's team should stop talking through the media and send a contract. Ohashi brushed that off on Wednesday. "That's not how it works. He's mistaken," he said, per BoxingScene. "These discussions are happening at the promoter level, not with the trainer." Sankei Sports reported the same response.

Inoue has not fought since beating Junto Nakatani on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome. A March date would give him a 10-month layoff and give Rodriguez, who would be moving up a weight class, about nine months since his last fight.

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Garcia's other big week made news here too: read our report on Garcia pulling Lindolfo Delgado from Riyadh. And for the rest of the 122-pound traffic around Inoue, The Ringside Whisperer's Whisper Wire on Rafael Espinoza calling out Inoue has the chatter.

Who wins if it lands in March? Follow both men on their Boxbid pages, Naoya Inoue and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez, and once the fight is official, lock in your pick in Fight Picker and Guess the Purse, then take it to the community rooms.