Does Jessie Bam Rodriguez posses what is needed to really cause concern with his punches to the pound for pound number one?
We shall see.
The short answer we believe at this point might be no.
Some things to know here on this:
- Rodriguez has 16 KOs in 23 fights (68% KO ratio).
- Inoue has 27 KOs in 33 fights (90% KO ratio at world level).
- Rodriguez’s power comes from sharp left-handed counter shots.
- Inoue survived a fractured orbital and got off the canvas to dominate.
- Moving up two divisions could weaken Rodriguez’s power.
- Inoue broke down durable fighters like Tapales with body shots.
- Bradley says Inoue’s explosiveness is above Rodriguez’s level.
- Robert Garcia says precision and volume, not one punch, trouble Inoue.
- Inoue has been knocked down but always recovered and won.
- Analysts say Rodriguez needs time to grow into the weight first.
The fight itself would be outstanding if they can make it but Bam Rodriguez decide if he is fighting Antonio Vargas next or not, and if he comes through that fight first.
If he does, pitting the American against the star from Japan in Inoue, now a bigger star in the US, would be a big fight.
And one that would be for the pound for pound number one spot as well.
Who knows what fights they will be in but it remains a solid scrap for entertainment to look at.