Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is here for a good time, not a long time.
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn has promoted him for the last four years and just re-signed The Ring’s No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter to a new promotional deal. But the Brit believes the 26-year-old won't be fighting past 2030. “Bam is a fierce competitor,” Hearn said on DAZN. “He doesn't want to be around for five or six years. He wants the biggest fights as soon as possible. Before [30 years old, he could retire]. I think even potentially before that. “He wants belts, undoubtedly, but he wants the biggest fights ASAP, and we should be celebrating that.” For now, calling it quits is nowhere to be found on the calendar with Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) as he makes his 118-pound debut Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, against WBA bantamweight titleholder Antonio Vargas (19-1-1, 11 KOs). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSSdC4WZG4c If Rodriguez gets past Vargas, he plans to leverage the stage to challenge Naoya Inoue, the undisputed junior featherweight champion and the sport’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. “Bam is like, ‘Don't wait, make it.' He's ready to go from Vargas into Inoue,” Hearn said. “We are ready. But listen, Vargas has got a lot to say. It's a massive crowd coming to Arizona on June 13, and that's a big moment for him. If he wins, he'll be calling out Inoue. We're ready to make it happen. “Outside of Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury, I think Rodriguez-Inoue is the biggest fight in boxing. I think it's the best fight in boxing in terms of the ability, the prime of both men. It is a massive fight.” Rodriguez holds The Ring, WBA, WBC and WBO 115-pound crowns, but he’s maintained that his days at junior bantamweight are done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g8UzASJzmw “Bam has a very tough fight against Vargas to try and become a three-division champion,” Hearn said. “That's a great move toward 122, and it is a big step up. I think 118 is going to be perfect for his body right now, and then 122 is another leap. “I think this is the first time I've seen Bam actively calling the Inoue fight out ... And that is a real statement of intent in terms of what he wants from his career.” Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram : @ManoukAkopyan
