Hideyuki Ohashi says a major bout is already in motion, with Jesse Rodriguez emerging as the leading possibility
Naoya Inoue’s promoter says a major fight is already being planned for February 2027. While Hideyuki Ohashi did not name the opponent, the comments are likely to increase speculation about a showdown with Jesse Rodriguez.
“There’s the December matchmaking we’re working on right now. Then next February, if I say there’s a big fight, you’ll probably know what I’m talking about. That’s already in motion. After that, we’ll do another one in an extraordinary place,” said Ohashi to Yahoo Japan.
The comments stopped short of naming an opponent, but they are likely to intensify speculation surrounding a showdown with Jesse Rodriguez. The unbeaten American recently moved up to bantamweight and captured the WBA title with a stoppage victory over Antonio Vargas.
Rodriguez’s trainer, Robert Garcia, has indicated that the plan is for Rodriguez to have one more fight before moving to super bantamweight. Potential opponents at bantamweight include WBA champion Seiya Tsutsumi and WBO titleholder Christian Medina as Rodriguez continues building toward bigger opportunities.
While much of the attention will focus on the February timetable, Ohashi’s reference to another event in an “extraordinary place” suggests discussions may already be underway for a second major appearance beyond the expected early-2027 bout.
Inoue is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Junto Nakatani in May at the Tokyo Dome, retaining the undisputed championship in a fight that drew enormous attention across Japan. The win improved his professional record to 31-0 and further strengthened his standing as one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
Ohashi’s latest comments provide the clearest indication yet that Inoue’s schedule for early 2027 is already being mapped out, with plans extending beyond a single marquee event. Whether the February fight ultimately involves Rodriguez or another opponent, the promoter made clear that preparations for the next stage of Inoue’s career are already underway.