A major plan is in place to match Naoya Inoue against Jesse Rodriguez as the centerpiece of a “Riyadh Season” event in Japan next February, with Nagoya’s IG Arena identified as the likely venue.
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The proposed fight, if finalized, could carry an estimated purse of around ¥5 billion (roughly $30–35 million), positioning it as one of the biggest financial events ever for fighters in the lower weight divisions. Saudi official Turki Alalshikh was in attendance at Inoue’s recent win over Junto Nakatani, where the undisputed champion secured a unanimous decision to extend his run at the top of the sport.
The event is part of a wider push by Saudi Arabia to expand “Riyadh Season” beyond its traditional base. Cards have already been staged in the United States, including Las Vegas, and discussions around a Japan show signal a further step into established boxing markets. Inoue has been central to those plans, having previously appeared on Saudi-backed events and drawn strong local crowds.
Inoue has also pointed to one remaining major fight at super bantamweight before moving up in weight. Speaking recently, he said:
“I think featherweight will be my final challenge. At super bantamweight, I probably have Nakatani and maybe one more fight left,” said Inoue.
Although no opponent was named, Rodriguez has consistently been viewed as the leading option. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that early-stage talks have already taken place and described the matchup as one that is difficult to avoid given both fighters’ positions.
Rodriguez is expected to continue building his position before a potential clash, including pursuing additional titles at lower weights before moving up. That route would allow him to enter a fight with Inoue, carrying further accomplishments across multiple divisions.
Inoue, meanwhile, said after the Nakatani fight that his immediate future is undecided and that he plans to take a break following a busy stretch. Even so, the scale of the proposed event and Saudi backing place the Rodriguez fight in clear view if negotiations continue.
If completed, the bout is expected to serve as Inoue’s final appearance at 122 pounds before a move to featherweight in pursuit of a fifth division title.
Last Updated on 2026/05/02 at 9:48 PM
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