Update: Naoya Inoue’s agent, John Lewis, tells The Ring’s Mike Coppinger that he is working with Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith to finalize a deal for Inoue to fight Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez in March in Tokyo.

The fight is not yet finalized, but the update indicates that Inoue is pursuing the matchup following the scheduling disagreement discussed below.

Robert Garcia Scrambles To Save Naoya Inoue Fight

Robert Garcia is suddenly scrambling to get Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez into the ring with Naoya Inoue. Not long ago, the trainer talked about making the Japanese superstar hold off until April or May 2027. Now he wants ink on paper immediately because he realized the chance might slip away completely.

Garcia wanted everything on his terms. The catch is that Inoue runs his own schedule. Tell an elite champion with featherweight plans to sit around, and he will just pack up and go.

“Send the fking contract,” Garcia told BoxingScenesuddenly daring Inoue’s side to lock down a March date.

That urgency tells the whole story. Garcia previously wanted another 118-pound tune-up first. By mid-October, he tried shrinking that timeline, telling The Ring that Bam could jump into the ring in December, then turn right around for Inoue in March.

Everyone is wondering if that scramble happened too late.

Giving Bam another look at bantamweight made sense in theory. Jumping up to meet Inoue is a massive leap, so wanting extra prep time makes total sense. Still, that plan only worked if Inoue decided to play along, and the Japanese star already hinted he had plenty of other targets.

Garcia clearly misjudged his leverage. Inoue showed he has zero problem walking away, flipping the entire script. It stopped being about what Bam preferred, turning into a fight to keep the chance alive at all.

Demanding a contract flips the pressure into the public eye. Garcia can claim Bam is ready right now, yet that does not wipe away months of trying to stall for a later date.

Nobody knows if Inoue shut the door for good. Still, the sheer threat of him moving up division ranks gave Robert every reason to panic.

Bam might watch the biggest payday of his life vanish without throwing a single punch. Garcia’s sudden shouting just sounds like a corner realizing their dream matchup will not wait on their calendar.

LIVE COVERAGE

World Boxing News provides live results and a live scorecards from The Belt Collector at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, on Saturday, October 24, as Dalton Smith faces Alberto Puello in a WBC super lightweight world title clash.

Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotes the event, which is broadcast live on DAZN.

Smith enters with an unbeaten 19-0 record, while Puello brings a 25-1 record into the twelve-round main event.

The supporting card features Giorgio Visioli against Maxi Hughes for the vacant WBC International Silver lightweight title, alongside Shannon Ryan’s clash with Emma Dolan for the British, Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight titles.

Edward Hardy, Joe Hayden, Leo Atang, Chris Mulunda and debutant Divine Omojor are also scheduled to appear.

The live scorecard for Smith vs Puello is scheduled for around 22.30 ring walks.

Live Results

All times are BST.

18:10

Middleweight Chris Mulunda remained undefeated at 5-0 with a six-round points win over Harley Collison. The result was never in doubt.

17:36

Dave Allen charge Joe Hayden slugged it out with Will Harrison over eight rounds before scoring a decisive decision in the opener. Hayden dropped Harrison in the first round and displayed the superior skill set to take the victory on the cards and move to 25-0.

Remaining Bouts

WBC World Super Lightweight Title — 12 Rounds

Dalton Smith (19-0) vs Alberto Puello (25-1)

Vacant WBC International Silver Lightweight Title — 10 Rounds

Giorgio Visioli (11-0) vs Maxi Hughes (29-9-2)

British, Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental Super Flyweight Titles — 10 Rounds

Shannon Ryan (11-1) vs Emma Dolan (9-1)

Featherweight — 8 Rounds

Edward Hardy (8-0) vs Diego Alberto Ruiz (28-15-1)

Heavyweight — 6 Rounds

Leo Atang (8-0) vs Jonathan Exequiel Vergara (9-4)

Cruiserweight — 4 Rounds

Divine Omojor (professional debut) vs Goran Kozul (8-12)

TV Coverage

The Belt Collector is available to watch live on DAZN, with Dalton Smith and Alberto Puello headlining the Sheffield event.

Follow WBN’s live boxing coverage throughout the night.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Tim Bradley has named his winner for this evening’s O’Shaquie Foster vs Emanuel Navarrete unification battle.

WBC champion Foster collides with WBO and IBF titleholder Navarrete tonight at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.

It brings together the two best 130lb fighters on the planet, with Navarrete having stopped Eduardo Nunez in his last bout back in February, while Foster defeated Ray Ford by majority decision during his most recent action in May.

Speaking to his YouTube channel ahead of the showdown, two-weight world champion Bradley began by breaking down the contest.

“Foster has got his hands full. Navarrete is one of those fighters that has always defied the odds. He’s always done it his way. His way has always been good enough. I think this fight is extremely dangerous for both. Foster definitely has the tools to beat Navarrete and Navarrete has the tools to beat Foster.

“I think Foster has to be perfect, I do. From my experience in calling Navarrete fights and speaking to fighters that have fought him, every fighter has said the same thing. It didn’t matter what weight it was or when they fought, every single fighter has said they have never ever in all their years been hit as hard as Navarrete hit.”

Despite acknowledging the threat that Navarrete possesses, Bradley revealed he is tipping Foster to come out on top.

“My prediction is I’m going with Foster. He’s going to show why he’s pound-for-pound. He is focused now. In the past when he suffered a couple of losses, things weren’t aligned.

“Now he’s got the promotional team, his actual team where he trains with, he’s got that now. He’s got money to pay for the best sparring partners, the best treatment, the best therapy, he has all that now.

“He has fought experienced guys. Guys where he wasn’t the favourite to win. I got him winning this fight but it’s going to be a damn good fight.”

Whoever gets their hand raised in this evening’s fight may look to then target an undisputed showdown with the winner of December’s WBA title clash between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball, with Cacace having claimed the belt with a victory over Jazza Dickens.