Account
Don’t have an account? Sign up
Help and preferences
Help
Settings & privacy
Turki Alalshikh planning January date to stage Inoue-Bam in Japan
Article hero background
Turki Alalshikh planning January date to stage Inoue-Bam in Japan
Link copied!
6 hrs ago
6 hrs ago
1 min read
A super fight between Naoya Inoue and Bam Rodriguez is being planned by Turki Alalshikh for January in Japan, The Ring has learned.
The bout, if a deal is completed, would feature The Ring’s No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer, “The Monster” Inoue, against Bam, who is No. 4. Inoue, 33, would defend his Ring Magazine championship at 122 pounds.
Rodriguez, The Ring’s champion at 115 pounds, will debut at 118 in a June 13 title challenge of Antonio Vargas in Glendale, Arizona.
Inoue (33-0, 27 KOs) is coming off Saturday’s unanimous-decision victory over Junto Nakatani at the Tokyo Dome in the biggest fight in Japanese history.
Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) has never competed in Japan, but has twice traveled to the country to support his brother, Joshua Franco, for his fights from the corner.
“If that fight was presented to me now, I’d definitely go and take it,” Rodriguez, 26, said on a recent episode of the Mr. Verzace Podcast. “I think me against Inoue would definitely be one of the biggest fights in the lower weight divisions.
“ … I love going to Japan anyways so if I were to fight out there for the first time, that would be great.”
Alalshikh plans to stage the event with the biggest fan capacity possible as he seeks a stadium to break the Japanese attendance record.
A special edition Ring Magazine belt will be designed for the super fight to commemorate the event.
Mike Coppinger is The Ring’s Senior Insider. Catch him every Monday on Inside The Ring on DAZN at 2 p.m. ET. Follow him on X/Instagram: @MikeCoppinger.
News
Junior featherweight
Article thumbnail
Next
Jaime Munguia outclasses Armando Resendiz to win WBA 168-pound title
RELATED ARTICLES
'Bam' Rodriguez would fight Inoue after Vargas, if option is offered
Interview
'Bam' Rodriguez would fight Inoue after Vargas, if option is offered
Trainer Robert Garcia Certain ‘Bam’ Rodriguez & Naoya Inoue Will Fight
Analysis
Trainer Robert Garcia Certain ‘Bam’ Rodriguez & Naoya Inoue Will Fight
Naoya Inoue vs. Bam Rodriguez in preliminary talks, says Hearn
Featured News
Naoya Inoue vs. Bam Rodriguez in preliminary talks, says Hearn
RELATED ARTICLES
'Bam' Rodriguez would fight Inoue after Vargas, if option is offered
Interview
'Bam' Rodriguez would fight Inoue after Vargas, if option is offered
Trainer Robert Garcia Certain ‘Bam’ Rodriguez & Naoya Inoue Will Fight
Analysis
Trainer Robert Garcia Certain ‘Bam’ Rodriguez & Naoya Inoue Will Fight
Naoya Inoue vs. Bam Rodriguez in preliminary talks, says Hearn
Featured News
Naoya Inoue vs. Bam Rodriguez in preliminary talks, says Hearn
Can you beat Coppinger?

Lock in your fantasy picks on rising stars and title contenders for a shot at $100,000 and exclusive custom boxing merch.

Can you beat Coppinger?
Partners
  • Strategic
    Partners
  • Strategic Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight
    Partners
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Heavyweight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight
    Partners
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Middlewight Partners partner logo
  • Lightweight
    Partners
  • Lightweight Partners partner logo
  • Lightweight Partners partner logo
  • Lightweight Partners partner logo
  • Partners
  • Partners partner logo
  • Partners partner logo
  • Partners partner logo
  • Partners partner logo
  • Promoters
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo
  • Promoters partner logo