Jesse Rodriguez became a three-division world champion on Saturday when he halted Antonio Vargas inside six rounds, but a further move up to face pound-for-pound rival Naoya Inoue may be stalled.
Following Inoue’s latest defence of the undisputed super-bantamweight world titles against Junto Nakatani last month, Rodriguez has been the name that he has been linked to with many reports suggesting it is in the works to take place next.
‘Bam’ vacated his unified super-flyweight world titles and, at the weekend, made his bantamweight debut, claiming Vargas’ WBA title via sixth-round knockout. Despite the statement win, many feel that the move up in size was noticeable and took its toll.
Speaking on the DAZN broadcast, his trainer Robert Garcia confirmed that he wants Rodriguez to ‘pace himself’ and have one more fight at bantamweight before moving up to 122lbs and challenging for Inoue’s throne.
“After the fight, he did tell me, ‘Listen, I did feel the strength’, he is a bigger guy so why would we go straight into another division which is going to make a big difference. We have got to pace ourselves.”
“I have no doubt that he is going to go out there and perform against Inoue and that he is going to beat Inoue. But, I need that one more fight before that.”
When discussing possible bantamweight opponents, Garcia then picked WBO champion Christian Medina over WBC ruler and brother of ‘The Monster’, Takuma Inoue.
“Me personally, I would prefer Medina because he is a very strong fighter and he is going to give us a test.”
Whilst Rodriguez is eyeing up unifications, he has also been ordered to take on WBA ‘champion-in-recess’, Seiya Tsutsumi, and will be stripped of the WBA title if he fails to face him within six months of Saturday’s win.