Naoya Inoue is eyeing up a move into the featherweight division, with each of the reigning 126lb champions seemingly keen to secure a lucrative shot at the pound-for-pound king. Now, after scoring a fifth consecutive win inside of the distance, one featherweight ruler has publicly called for a clash with the Japanese sensation.
Inoue has issued a March deadline to Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez as hype around their potential match-up continues to first build and then be dampened by a possible collapse, as Rodriguez toys with the idea of remaining at bantamweight or challenging for the undisputed super-bantamweight throne.
Regardless, it is believed that Inoue will make his move into the featherweight division next year, with current world champions; Angelo Leo (IBF), Bruce Carrington (WBC), Brandon Figueroa (WBA) and Rafael Espinoza (WBO), each jostling to be selected as the man that Inoue wishes to challenge.
On Saturday, Espinoza managed a fifth straight knockout win in as many outings since becoming a world champion and during the aftermath of his victory over Ricardo Blandon, ‘Divino’ unveiled his plans to either unify or take on Inoue, on the DAZN broadcast.
“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 move to featherweight hinges on Rodriguez’s next move, but it is expected that the pair will collide in March, before the Japanese superstar ventures up to what he has declared will be the highest and final weight-class of his career.
