Eddie Hearn Names Christian Medina As Jesse Rodriguez’s Next Fight Option

Matchroom promoter says a WBA-WBO bantamweight unification could come before any move toward Naoya Inoue

Eddie Hearn believes Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez may have unfinished business at bantamweight before chasing a fight with Naoya Inoue. Following Rodriguez’s stoppage win over Antonio Vargas, Hearn identified WBO champion Christian Medina as a potential unification opponent at 118 pounds.

“My response is to speak to Robert Garcia and Bam, you know, that’s one fight at 118 lbs,” Hearn said to DAZN Boxing after Rodriguez stopped Vargas in six rounds to capture the WBA bantamweight title. “We also got Chispa Medina as well. That’s a big unification fight to be made between the two of them.”

The comments offer a different angle to the debate that has surrounded Bam Rodriguez since his latest victory. Much of the attention has centered on a fight with Naoya Inoue, particularly after trainer Robert Garcia indicated that he would prefer Bam to have one more bout before moving up to challenge the undisputed super bantamweight champion.

If Garcia remains firm on keeping Rodriguez at bantamweight for another fight, Medina (27-4, 19 KOs) represents a logical option. Rather than taking a non-title bout, Rodriguez would have the opportunity to unify the WBA and WBO championships in only his second appearance at 118 pounds.

Rodriguez (25-0, 18 KOs) moved up from super flyweight to dethrone Antonio Vargas by sixth-round knockout in Glendale, Arizona, becoming a three-division world champion at 26 years old.

Hearn later reminded fans that a future fight with Inoue remains a major target.

“The deal’s got to be right. The offer’s got to be right,” Hearn said. “I know Bam will do it, no question. And Robert will do it as well. But we got a long-term future in the sport. Belts to collect at 118.”

Hearn’s remarks shifted the conversation surrounding Rodriguez’s next move. Rather than speculation about a future Inoue showdown, the Matchroom promoter identified WBO champion Christian “Chispa” Medina as a realistic option for Bam’s next fight.