Garcia Challenges Inoue’s Team to Send Contract for March Bout
Quick Jab Boxing
Robert Garcia, trainer and manager of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, challenged Naoya Inoue’s team to send a contract for a March showdown between the two fighters. Negotiations for a superfight between Inoue and Rodriguez have stalled in recent weeks.
Rodriguez’s promoter Eddie Hearn said on Wednesday that he is awaiting an offer from Inoue’s promoter, Hideyuki Ohashi. Garcia said: “Send me that fucking contract. Send me that offer. Send it to us, don’t just talk with your people and on social media, we’re one phone call away.”
Naoya Inoue insisted that Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez must face him in March without an interim bout or risk missing out altogether. Eddie Hearn stated that Rodriguez’s team is prepared to proceed directly to a March showdown without an interim fight.
Robert Garcia said he believes Inoue is rushing the fight to take advantage of Rodriguez not having an extra fight. Garcia stated that if Inoue pushes for no interim fight, it favors Rodriguez because it suggests Inoue is worried about Rodriguez getting another fight at 118lbs.
Garcia said: “Now it looks like it may not happen, we’re still hoping it will in December, but if we don’t have anything yet and if Inoue’s pushing for us not to have one, then [Inoue] has got something to worry about, because he doesn’t want us to have another fight. That’s it.”
Garcia had hoped Rodriguez could first face WBO bantamweight champion Christian Medina on December 11 before stepping up to 122lbs.
Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh first floated the contest and expressed a desire to stage the fight in Japan following Inoue’s victory over Junto Nakatani in May. Inoue is described as the undisputed junior featherweight champion. Rodriguez moved up to bantamweight in June, stopping Antonio Vargas to claim the WBA title.
Discussions between the teams quietened amid reports of financial difficulties in Saudi boxing and concerns over Turki Alalshikh’s health.
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