Naoya Inoue is considering moving up to featherweight, as several reigning champions at 126 pounds are eager to face the pound‑for‑pound elite. After securing his fifth straight victory inside the distance, one featherweight titleholder has publicly called for a showdown with the Japanese star.
Inoue has set a March deadline for a potential bout with Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, as excitement over their matchup has fluctuated amid speculation that Rodriguez might stay at bantamweight or pursue an undisputed super‑bantamweight title. The uncertainty has tempered the growing hype surrounding the fight.
Irrespective of Rodriguez’s plans, Inoue is expected to move into the featherweight division next year, with reigning world champions Angelo Leo (IBF), Bruce Carrington (WBC), Brandon Figueroa (WBA) and Rafael Espinoza (WBO) all positioning themselves as potential opponents he may target.
On Saturday, Rafael Espinoza secured his fifth consecutive knockout victory since capturing the world title, and following his win over Ricardo Blandon, the “Divino” announced on the DAZN broadcast that he intends to pursue either a unification fight or a showdown with Inoue.
“The truth is, I want to unify. I want a unification fight. I want to be able to say I’m the best featherweight, and also wait for that big fight with Inoue. That would be a dream. My biggest dream is to become one of the pound‑for‑pound best. That’s what I want, and that’s what I’m going to pursue.”
Inoue’s transition to featherweight is contingent on Rodriguez’s next steps, though both sides anticipate a March encounter before the Japanese superstar ascends to what he has proclaimed will be the highest and final weight class of his career.