The Ariel Helwani Show - Inside Boxing | Bam Rodriguez vs. Naoya Inoue next?; Tyson Fury shows up at the White House, Boots-Zayas draws near

Episode Date: June 16, 2026

Dan Canobbio and Chris Algieri kick off the show discussing the New York Knicks becoming NBA champions and what it all means for the city of New York (01:08).  Bam Rodriguez scored an impressive knockout win over Antonio Vargas to win the WBA bantamweight title on Saturday night and now all eyes are on a potential super fight with Naoya Inoue (16:24). Should Bam take another fight before? Should he jump right into an Inoue fight, which would be his highest-paying fight by a large margin (25:28)? Next up, the UFC Freedom 250 card at the White House produced some wild scenes and fights (38:53) as well as a confusing boxing moment when Tyson Fury was brought in to make an announcement and instead deferred to Dana White (45:25). We’re guessing the announcement will be Fury officially signing with Zuffa Boxing. What does this mean for the Anthony Joshua fight?

Welcome in, everybody. It's another episode of Inside Boxing. We're presented by ppV.com. In association with uncrowned in Yahoo Sports, PPPV.com, is the home for all combat sports. And all live events, really, got a lot of tennis, got a AW wrestling, some concerts, and big-time boxing. Fully expect Errol Spence versus Tim Zoo to be carried on ppv.com. That's coming up in July, right around the corner, Tank Davis. Supposedly we'll be fighting Floyd Schofield, which could be a PBC event, and that would also be on ppv.com. They're a proud presenting sponsor. No subscription, stream it to any device.

So shout out to pbv.com, who allows us to do this show twice a week. And Chris, I can say something that I've never been able to say before in the 481 episode history of this podcast. We are doing this podcast as world champions. I can say that. You're actually are a world champion. The New York Knicks are NBA champs, and it still hasn't set in. I've been a on a three-day bender. There it is. The Chris Algeria's even, Chris Algeria's got the merch on.

The Knicks are champions. I can't believe it. Yeah, we haven't been alive long enough to see them as champions. So we, I call myself a lifelong suffering Knicks fan. And they're the only team

I've ever rooted for. They're the only team I've ever, like I've never purchased an NBA ticket to any other team. Like, I've only gone to see the Knicks. I'm not a huge basketball fan. but I'm a big Knicks fan because when you're New York,

it's just a vibe, man. And I've been ringside. I've been court side. I've been court side for Nick games. I have a Knicks jersey given to me by the garden. I've fought in the garden. No, that's a flex.

You know, like it's, no, the Knicks are just, if you're not from New York, you just don't get it. And when they have always struggled to get over the hump and now we're here, it's pretty crazy. Yeah, it's been an unbelievable

10 weeks. I think it's captivated the sports world. I think you can say if you're not from New York, you don't get it. But I think people are starting to get it when they go on TikTok to go on social media and they see all the scenes that are coming out of New York. To me, that's the coolest thing. Obviously, winning the basketball games and is something I never thought I'd ever see them to go all the way and win it all as a lifelong Nick fan years and years of just being the worst. Years and years of being a punching bag. Years and years of just being a joke and everyone just laughing at us saying we're cursed to erase that. curse and to do it in the fashion that they did. 16 wins. Only three losses. 15 of the last 16, one of the biggest point differentials up and down the list. One of the coolest things, in my opinion, is seeing the New Yorkness of it. I know that's not a word, but I'm just making it up. To see, like, how cool New York is looking coming out of this. And as a New Yorker, you are as well, I'm like extremely proud to be New Yorker. These scenes only could happen in this city, like the watch parties, the random watch parties, the scenes coming from, the streets. Obviously, there were some idiots out there that ruined it for a lot of us,

but the majority of it is good-hearted, fun times in New York City. I will be at the parade on Thursday. Oh, talk about flex. Talk about flex. Okay. Well, anyone can go. I mean, there's going to be five million people there. I don't know where I'm going to be. There's no plan. Everyone I'm texting is like, I don't have a plan. I'm just going to show up. So this might be our last episode. You might not make it out of there. We're taping a very special episode tomorrow that's going to run Thursday or Friday. because I will be at the parade. But yeah, I know this is a boxing show,

but I do think that it's taken over the world. And before the World Cup, once the World Cup is enforced right now, then it's going to take over. It's a way big. The World Cup's going to take over pretty damn soon. Apparently there's a Canobio on Uruguay, too. I just found out. You look like you could be, you look like you could be Uruguay.

There's a lot of Italians down there, so. Yeah, forgot his name. I have it here. Uruguay is, I mean, they're always good. It's a very, very. Augustine Canobia. Nice name. Augustine.

Strong name. Yeah. He's on the Irriga national team. But yeah, New York is on top, baby. We can say for the next year, we are champs. And now we've got to run it back. Now we've got to become two-time or back-to-back champs. We'll see.

But, yeah, it's been a world win a couple of days. Watched it out with the parents and all my brothers. That's all I wanted to do. Like, obviously, I wanted to be in the city. kind of see that scene. But I wanted to be with, like, all my brothers and my dad, because we suffered. Just like you said, you suffered, we suffered.

We all suffered together through, like, some really bad teams and some really bad teams. It was a big stretch of bad teams, but then we also had, like, great teams that just couldn't do it. Yeah, the 90s. Like, seeing Ewing. The Pat Riley era with Pat Ewing and, oh, man.

And so 99. We just had Jordan. 99 losing was rough. Lost of the Spurs. In the 94, there was the Houston Rockets that we lost to. That was... Lost of the Rockets, lost to the Spurs.

Game 7. Horrible, horrible ending. Horrible ending, really. And that team, it was basically a dream team. We still couldn't do it. That's where the curse was developed. Yeah. And it's over, guys. The curse is over.

But I'm about to be obnoxious for the next year with the New York Knicks. Another thing we need to talk about here is we are throwing another pre-fight. parties. Zias versus Boots. We're going to be at McMahon's public house June 27th. Tickets are $20, drinks, specials. Come hang out with us. This will be our third party that we're thrown. We did one in January

for Shakur and Tiafimo over in Manhattan. Now we're bringing it to Brooklyn. You know what to expect at these parties. If you've been at them, it's just a big community of boxing fans will obviously be there talking to you guys. We bring special guests, fighters. It's a great time. It's from 5 to 7 if you want to stay and hang out and watch the fight. Well, we can do that as well. So come join us at McMahon's Public House Saturday, June 27th, before Zaya's Boots,

which is now right in the rearview mirror, not the rearview mirror. Right around the corner. Right around the corner, thank. Is there a front mirror? It's in the windshield, and it's quickly approaching. So let's go out and have a good time on Saturday, June 27. It's going to be a blast. Yeah, guys, pick up your tickets.

I mean, we had a crazy turnout last time and we don't want to have to turn people away, but we kind of do, because that's a good thing. It shows that it's there and people want to do this. We do have a lot of fun. The best part is we get fans from all over, literally all over the world, because people are in town.

They're in town to see the fight. You know, boxing is full of fanatical fans who are willing to travel. So there's going to be people from all over the world are going to come and chat with us and hang out. That's my favorite part. We get to talk to our listeners and true boxing heads. People who really know what they're talking.

talking about. I rarely like talking boxing when I'm in nature, when I'm out touching grass, because nobody knows what they're talking about. But our listeners do. So we generally have some really good boxing conversations when we do have these events. And you never know who's going to come by. Like we always have boxing luminaries pop in. Last time we had Michaela Mayer pop in. We've had Demetri Bivel pop in the past, Jee Lejean. We try to invite all of our friends, whoever's around. So it should be another, another great event. And the BW. a Boxing Writers Association

dinner is that week as well. That's on Thursday. So there's going to be a lot of people swirling around. New York is crazy right now. Between... New York is always crazy, dude. The next World Cup.

We got the U.S. Gulf. U.S. Open is on Shinnecock on Long Island. Puerto Rican Day parade. Big Boots fight. And Boots in Zias. We got the BWA dinner.

You can't beat New York summer. You cannot beat it. Yes, I'm in Florida. I've been in Florida for a while now because I hate New York winters, but you cannot beat New York summers. Yeah, it's been an awesome couple weeks, and now we've got a big fight on the horizon. That's what the word I was looking for. On the horizon, June 27th. So come hang out with us.

Buy your tickets now. We'll have a link on YouTube, Eventbrite. I think of 20 bucks, gets your drink. Which in New York City, beer is like $18. So you basically got your money back. Yeah, it helps us. Let's cover some of the costs to put on these events. So really appreciate that.

There also is a narrative forming on boxing Twitter that we are anti-boots. We? Getting both of us. Getting a lot of tweets over the weekend saying that I am anti-boots, saying that I believe he's a hype job. And this is like the common thing that happens on this show or happens on Twitter is people think that I'm saying these things. What we've said in the past is the reason why people are.

giving Zayas a chance outside of what can happen inside of the ring is we just don't know how good boots could be. We've heard stories about him sparring, because you've told me them. We've seen him in the ring against lesser opponents and he's been able to dominate them all. But there is a little bit of like what could this guy be? Is it like when he steps into the ring with someone of his equal, not saying that Zias is his equal, but if someone, if he steps it up, how will he perform? somehow that gets misconstrued into me saying that boots is a hype job i i've never said something that demonstrative on this show and i never will what i do is i go out and i see what everyone is saying i get a feel from what people are talking about people in the box and people in in the

know and then i bring it here and say oh wow there's a there's a group of people out there that don't believe boots is all that that's not saying that i think that or you think that which wanted to address that right away. Well, well said, Dan. And I preface all of this talk because Xander is literally my guy. Spar rhythm. I've known him for a long time. I've known since he was basically a kid.

That being said, I know what Boots is. I'm the one who gives the reports of what I hear from everybody who's in because I'm in these gyms. I'm in the gyms. I'm at the fights. I'm Boots on the ground. I talk to these people all the time. I know what Boots is.

Boots is an absolute monster and is on the precipice of being the guy. but you got to beat guys like Xander and you got to do it impressively. It's not just about getting past them. You got to go out there and dominate it. If you're trying to be that guy, if you're trying to walk in the footsteps of a Terrence Crawford, which is where the comparisons have been coming with Boots. You got to perform under the lights. Guys like Floyd Mayweather, they always go out there and they do what they need to do.

Obviously not a puncher, but still goes out there and wins the big fights. And Boots, this is his opportunity. He's got a real guy in front of him. Is he the favorite? Absolutely. Should he win this fight? Absolutely. Am I picking him to win this fight?

Yep. But like, you got to do it. We got to get there and do it. And I'm not, we're not going to sit here and be on the bandwagon for any fighter. Doesn't matter if I have a relationship with you. Doesn't matter if I like the guy as a fighter. I'm not a bandwagon guy. We're going to cover the sport. We cover it as unbiased as we possibly can. And then we give opinions. If you don't like the opinion, doesn't mean I don't like your guy. Doesn't, and it's not about liking either. I know. It's just, you know, it's tough because it's a sport. that it's not a team. You're, you're, it's just one, one fighter out there. And there's a lot of, uh, is an ethnic sport too.

So people think that we're pulling for one fighter over the other. Are you Puerto Rican? Neither of us. No. No, I'm not. I am not. Uh, but that's the thing too. And I appreciate, I appreciate the people out there on Twitter and socials that like,

come to our defense and said like, you know, Dan has never said anything bad about boots or like, they never say or the Shikor stuff in the past, like, like, I'm pretty sure Dan and Christopher, I've never said anything bad about you, Shakur, or anything personal. Like, we will never make it personal. We will never try to, you know, like you said, be a bandwagon fan or a ride for one fighter, because that doesn't make any sense for us. We talk about the entire sport. And yeah, like what you said is like Boots has to go out there and do it.

I haven't made my pick yet, but I'm obviously leaning towards Boots to win this fight. But he has to go out there and do it. And if he beats Boots, then this is step one towards what Eddie Hearn says is him becoming the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world because I do believe he has that um talent inside of him and I do believe that he can do that and I've been waiting for years for bootzennis to get on the scene and become who we who we think he is uh and I was in grand rapids this weekend a lot of a lot of a lot of northeast coaches reports I'm hearing about boots in the gym that's what I mean like boots in the gym boots in the gym I mean I'm talking

a guy's firsthand who are there and they're they're telling me destroying them. He's, he's, he's busting rib cages, he's busting noses. He's, and I, listen, I've heard from guys that I really trust, like fighters, trainers that are friends of mine that tell me like, yo, watch, wait, what I've seen in the gym, you know, he's, he, a lot of it, I think, was related to the weight. I think he was really hurting himself to make 47. And he even said himself, he probably sees himself at 168 at one point. Maybe that's going to be his top. That's how big this young man is and what he's doing, you know, sacrificing to get to where he is. And, he's It's like, we haven't seen the best of boots.

We might not see boots as best until 60 or 68. Look at Terrence Crawford. He got better as he got bigger. So, you know, a lot of guys, people don't understand how much it takes out of you to make weight. And a 12-rounder is a long time. If you don't get a guy out of there in the beginning, you know, having that weight advantage can actually hurt you down the stretch. But also just reactions, especially a guy like boots who's so reactive and athletic. If you are just a short percentage taken down, it can affect all that because of his style.

So, but I've been here some nasty reports, which is maybe why the line has been changing. The reports are leaking, and people are getting busted up in the gym. Because the line's gotten real wide, right? Dan, it's getting wider. Yeah, it's really wide. I'm looking at it right now on Fandall.

And this is ballooned to a minus 430 favorite. Wow, that's big. Four to one. That's big. That's huge. That's huge. And that's, you know, there's a lot of hype behind him. There's a lot of, um, he's just good.

It's just really good. Just really good. Like, I'm not a hater. Like, of course he's good. Like, I'm out some type of Zias super fan. We're just trying to figure out both sides of this and give both guys a shot as we head in and try to make you think.

That's one thing we can try to do. I actually am. I am a Zias fan. I'm on Boots fan as well. So, like, we can be fans. We can be fans. And we are fans. Where I think maybe we're fans first.

Because that's, you know... I'm fans of big fights. I'm fans of fights allows to pre-fight parties that are big enough. I'm fans of fighters, dude. I love fighters. Like, you know, I love this sport. I want to elevate these guys the best that I can.

And, you know, I want them to make all the money possible. I don't have a jealous bone in me. I want guys to succeed. So I like both these guys. So I can be a fan of both guys and I can give you an unbiased pick or opinion. That's one thing I will say about you, Chris, is that you are not a bitter, former champ, because I've met a lot of those. There's more than not.

especially when they see like the type of money that's being made and like you know i feel like if you were in this era i feel like you would have done even better you had an unbelievable career it would have been more money because you would have figured out how to to market it and all that but yeah i do like that you're not a bitter guy we root for everyone any i root for big fights any any event that allows us to have a pre-fight party that justifies doing that is pretty damn cool so head down to man's public house. Very happy to bring this to Brooklyn. We've usually only done them in Manhattan. So it's so easy in Manhattan. But Brooklyn, Brooklyn was a little bit of, now we're stepping out. Dan had to jump through some hoops for this one, guys. So, so make sure you thank him.

Yeah, buy some tickets and let's have a grand old time. All right, let's get to what happened this past weekend. Bam Rodriguez stops Antonio Vargas in six rounds. It was his debut at 118 pounds. thought it was a really, really good test for Bam. He lost a few rounds early on. Vargas had a lot of pop, was durable for the early rounds until he wasn't. But Bam drops him in the fifth, stops him in the sixth with some blistering combos and angles. If there were any questions about if Bam's power can translate to 118, I think that's put to rest because he looked outstanding. All in all, I think it was a great showing for Bam Rodriguez, who maybe now is in the top two.

Two, power for pound, but let's just talk first about what we saw out of Van Rodriguez on Saturday night. A couple ways to look at this. I'm going to start, I'll start negative. You know, the first fight at 118, the size mattered, right? The height of Vargas was an issue. He said it himself, you know, in an interview, said, yeah, his 18 is different. He was, he was cracking a little bit.

Like, he had some pop that he didn't expect. So the punches feel different. Dealing with taller guys, dealing with bigger. bodies. So he struggled a little bit in the beginning. And for BAM, struggling means he lost a round. Like, he lost two rounds. You know, I think it was even after four, you know, which, again, four rounds is,

for a 12-round fight, four rounds is very early on. So, you know, it's even after four, we're looking at like, oh, is this, you know, people are thinking upset because we watched Dan, Bam lose two rounds. He'll help him, Dan. We saw BAM lose two rounds. So now people are like, could he lose? Like, that's how good BAM is.

If he loses a rounder, if he loses two rounds, it's like, oh, wow. So you look at this, like, the weight, weight's real. This is 118. Inouye's at 22. We're pushing Bam to fight at 122 next against Inouye who's on his way to 26. Does size become a factor?

All right, so that's the negative take. Positive take. Just growing into the weight class, figuring it out. And listen, these guys, they're not here to lay down. And a guy like Bam, being as high in the pound-for-pound ranking as he is, like you mentioned, could be pot. top two at this point. Every opponent is going to be the best version of themselves. This was Vargas's Super Bowl. You fight Bam now. This is your Super Bowl, especially in these weights,

with these smaller weights, where you need these, you need big names. And it's easier to make the big names because the smaller weights don't have a, don't have a choice to go anywhere else to make any money. This is Vargas's a Super Bowl. And he showed up, showed up, you've had a good game plan. He fought well, still, Bam figures them out and gets them out of there relatively quickly. Six rounds, that's pretty quick for a 12-rounder to get a guy out of there to make that adjustment. and finish the way he did, and the power obviously traveled, power didn't look any different

than it was at 115. He still hurts you and finishes you. So that's the good and the bad of my thoughts on that performance. I thought that was pretty, you nailed it there because there's two weeks to look at it. You know,

being even after four rounds with a guy in Vargas, who was good as a champion, but was not on the BAM's level. Limpian, good amateur pedigree, tall. Right. A lot of things. And Bam is going to fight better opponents coming up as he moves up, obviously, ending with Inouye.

But the power, I mean, you can't knock that. The guy has now had consecutive knockouts yet. I think he's on three straight stoppages, and he's doing it just ferociously. I mean, these angles. They're like, like, he hits you. He walks away. That's what I mean. He's not going through the 12 rounds, and he's not just.

going on and on and on and on and leaving doubt there. The only doubt is like, oh, he might struggle in his next fight, or he might struggle with Inouye, who was pound for pound great. He's erasing all doubts by stopping these guys. His first fight in a new weight class, he stops the guy. He drops him in the fifth, and that was a nasty, nasty combination. And Vargas looked. He looked done badly hurt.

The first knocked out. I was like, how the heck did he get up from that? I mean, he was like on his both knees and he was like, And then the sixth round, he does it again with the angles. And that left hand, it's one of the most beautiful punches in boxing. He's one of the most gifted offensive fighters in the entire sport. And it's just amazing to watch with the footwork. I mean, as a fighter yourself, you must be in awe when you watch him fight because

angles are everything in boxing. And I haven't seen a fighter like that in years that can really master them With the power, it's really something to watch. It's one thing to be able to create the angles against high-level opposition. It's another thing to be in position where your feet have the structure to still throw hard and to not get excited and put too much fat on the punch, pop your rub, wop or do whatever. He still does it fundamentally perfect the punch. Creates the angle is in the right position and has the base to generate the power and is able to pull the trigger to land the shot.

the guy's left hand is a homing missile. He has the artillery, no question. Obviously, he's knocking these guys out. But he also has the targeting system to get it there. Teddy Atlas said it great. He's like, you could have the heaviest artillery in the world. But if you can't get it there, it doesn't matter. Bam does both.

He can get it there, and when he lands, it's explosive. He's wildly impressive. And he consistently does it with the best in the world. He didn't just move up and wait and fight a new weight class. He fought a champion at the weight class. Maybe not the best guy in the division. doesn't matter. He's still one of the belt holders. He says a champion for a reason. Jumps up in weight class, right to a champion, knocks him out.

Bam gets the win in six rounds. It looks spectacular, in my opinion. His first fight of 118 should erase some of the doubters, but there's always going to be doubters. And there's a big fight with Inouye looming. And I wanted to look at the pound for pound list. Not the biggest pound for pound guy in the world. But you've got to figure that Inouye is number one now. After the Nakatani win, and with Usick struggling against Verhoven, does that mean Bam moves into the top two? And if Bam does fight Inouye next,

not that this fight needed any more hype, it could be one versus two on the pound for pound list. But are you looking at Bam like that high now on this list? Do you have them jumping over, Usik? There's argument there for Usik because of, one, I think the way classes matter because you look at the run of form of Ussick and who he's fought, cruiserweight, heavyweight, undersized.

But then you have the argument, well, Bam, Bam's moving up too. But he's not fighting the level of opposition that Usoc has. The issue is like, what have you done for me lately? Because Uccc struggles with Rikover-Huven and struggles mightily. And Bam has not struggled at all with anyone. So, yeah, there's an argument there. And that's one of the things with the pound for pound

because it's such a fluid listing and ranking, which is why we hate it. And it changes all the time. And we could talk about it today. And next week, it will be completely different. But you're still looking at top three,

right, which is crazy to think about. And if you've got number one fighting number three, if you have one fighting number two, when does that happen? You know, if Inouye and Bam, when does that actually happen? By the time Inouye and Bam, do step into the ring,

if they are to step in the ring, and we got our fingers crossed for that. It most likely will be number one and number two. it might not be right now there's an argument right now i think a lot of people would have anyway number two uh excuse me bam number two um but you're gonna get a a violent pushback for the usic fans and and for just boxing people in general so there there is an argument whether he's two or three there's no argument whether you know one verse three is is is not wildly important and historic i i'm not like we said not the biggest pound for pound guy because like you said

like these guys don't fight enough and it's just a what have you done for me lately type of thing Is it accolades? Is it a popularity contest? But what I do believe in is the Mount Rushmore of it, the top four of it. And there's no doubt that BAM's in the top four. Now with Bivall being so inactive, better be of losing to Bivall, Canelo, and Crawford retiring. It's opened up some spots.

And I have no problem. The best fighters in the world, the top three best fighters in the world are Ussick, Inouye, and BAM. And you could make a case for Bival at four. and that's starting to look even a little murky because he just hasn't been active, but he's still damn good. You've got Benavitas on his heels right there because... Benavitas is in the top seven.

I think I got him in top five. I think it's him and Bivel, and I think you've got Ussick and... In a way, Ucic, bam, Bivel, Benavita is right on his tail. That's an awesome list. Awesome. That's an awesome list. So, yeah, any way you slice it or any way you want to cut it up, This could be one versus two come January if Inouye and Bam step into the ring, which brings us to our next topic.

Is Bam Rodriguez ready for Inouye next? Is he ready? If you ask him, yes. He's like, whatever. But I'm friends of Robert Garcia. I talked to him quite a bit on ProBox TV. I spoke to him for a long time last yesterday. But I've also been talking him for months.

And Robert's a very genuine guy. He says that out what is. he doesn't mince words, and he's been saying the same thing. He wants Bam to have another fight at 118 before they move up to 122 and look for the anyway fight. And it may be another unification fight. There's some good names out there. He also told me prior to this fight.

He expected Vargas to be tough, but he didn't expect it to be necessarily a tough fight. So he said he's going to give Bam a few weeks off and bring him right back in October, which doesn't mess up the timeline for what they're talking about for. Inouye anyway. Because they weren't talking about Inouye fighting this year. Eddie's been saying early 2027 or May of 2027. So there's time. So why not bring them right back and then give him time to properly prepare for a mega

fight like that if that is to be what is next next? A lot of things have to happen here. Inouye doesn't wait for anyone. He's got his own schedule. He has his own economy. He moves like a Canelo. He moves like a Mayweather. So he probably wants to fight one more time this year, Innoa, or in June.

That would be he's been fighting in December pretty much every year for a while now. So, and his days at 122 are... Very limited. Are not long. Because he hasn't said, Inouye, that he wants to go to 126 just yet, but we're running out of 122 opponents for Inouye. He's wiped out everyone. He just beat the guy to beat, so... Right.

Nakatani fight was, I wouldn't say rush, but like, Nakatani didn't have many fights at 122 before he stepped in there with Inouye. That one wasn't perfect timing. And Nakatani got hurt, right? Didn't he break his orbital? Yeah, but he's not fighting anytime. Does that I mean. I think there was a possibility for a rematch there, because the first fight was good, but that's out. We're on two different timelines here. It's whatever Inouye wants, and it's whatever Turkey wants. Turkey's the one financing this fight. And Turkey has said, I want it in January. That's the report being floated. it out there. So if Bam fights here in June, doesn't take too much damage, uh, looks really good,

gets the stoppage. September, October is what Robert Garcia said immediately after the fight. Robert Garcia also said immediately after the fight that he got text messages from Turkey right after. That gives me a lot of, uh, it keeps me hopeful that this fight will happen. Turkey, when Turkey wants a fight, he usually gets it. So he's going to be, he's letting it be known that he wants his fight and Robert Garcia knows that. But Robert Garcia is the trainer slash manager of Bamarigas, who's going to look out for his guy? You say September, October doesn't really throw a wrench into a January fight, but it kind of does. Like, we're operating on this boxing world where they fight twice a year.

I hate it. Bam does stay active. Inouye does stay active. We're talking about a guy in Illinois that fights four times a year. If Bam fights in September in October, we have to hope that, number one, he wins. Number two, he does not get hurt. It doesn't suffer a cut. Doesn't injure any part of him.

And even then, like that's October, November, December, January. Then we're looking at four months from October to January. Now these timelines are starting to get funky. And in that time, what is Inouye doing? He's not sitting around and waiting for Bam Rodriguez. Although, I mean, would you, I wouldn't fault the guy if he took a step back four fights in 2025. Who does he think he is at this age? It's unbelievable from Inouye.

So we're operating on a lot of different levels here for a fight. that I believe Bam has to take. He has to show some urgency, but he also has to go in it thinking that he can win. And if one more fight at 118 or one more fight at 122 makes it for,

it makes a better fight with Inouye, then I'm all for it. Like, we don't have to rush it too much. I mean, I don't also have to sit back too long. So if it happens midway through next year, I'm not going to be upset. But that's, that's, that's what Robert's pushing for. And he, he,

Because it means that Inouye is going to be at his best. Bam's going to be at his best. It's like in the NBA, like when these teams get a lot of rest in between the series or a lot of rest in between a few games. Yeah, we want to watch it next. Like I wish the Knicks played every night. But I want the best game possible. And I think that's what we get in this Inouye situation. My only thing is...

Because if Inouye has to stick around and he getting to the point where he may need to move up, you can get a diminished Inouye. We don't want that either. I want 22? I think he's so set. I think he is like, that's his weight, 122. Like, you agree? I don't know. I don't know because he has traversed weight classes as good as anyone I can remember since

Manny Pack, yeah. And he comes in strong. He comes in, he looks, he comes into the weight and he looks at. He puts on lean tissue. Like, they're so systematic in the way they approach their training and their diet and getting themselves to the weight. I have, again, I have reports from inside Inouye's camp, guys who have sparred with him. He's big.

The big 22 pounder. He's grown into the weight. He is, he is, he said it's like, it's his weight. Like, I don't know about that. He might, he might be growing out of that weight class too. I would love, I want to see Inouye at 126 because it's just fresh matchups. There's so many, but now this band fight that we never thought was possible, this band fight that we never really, like, it was like thrown out there maybe as like a pipe dream. For a while it was, oh, in a way and tank.

That was the pipe dream silly matchup. Right. This one actually works. Yeah, with Bam. just getting better and better and just showing that he's the goods and rising the pound for panelists has now become the main focus and with Turkey into these types of fights. And that's another thing too is if Turkey says I want it in January and I don't want you to take a tune-up fight. I know it's crazy because I never really liked anyone to tell someone what to do. It's kind of like

the beauty of boxing is everyone kind of operates on their own schedule. It's not the UFC with Dana White. But Turkey is the one signed these checks. And who am I to say that Bam wouldn't listen? Listen to that. I got told what to do and who to fight my whole career. So don't, don't feel bad. Right. When there are guys signing the checks, you're going to do it. And like when you're in your prime money-making years and for Bam, I know he's 26 and he's talking about, oh, I have to fight in the way before I retire. Like this could be it in terms of like mega-meagap fight. Like there, we've talked about this many times on the show. You know, this is not 147. This is not one, you know, heavyweight. This isn't middleweight. There isn't going to, there's not going to be a big fight coming down the pipe. pipeline for Bam. Oh, and I'll wait until I'm 30, like Mayweather did, and then I'll step on the gas and make my mega millions. No, that's not going to happen. Like, Inouye is a rare breed. He is a once in a generation type of fighter at that weight that generates crazy dollars. So that's a big

factor in this too. It's like, all right, I'm going to take one or two more fights, Bam. I might not be a move here. Like, all of a sudden, you take two more fights at 118 or 122, and Inouye's like, screw this. I'm going to freaking 126, and I don't need Bam. Bam needs me. Fights gone. In a way, doesn't even have to say screw this. He's going to do what he wants to do. He's going to do whatever he's doing anyway.

Well, he is in turn saying screw. He's never going to say that because he's a very classy guy. But he might be like, that's not even in his head. He's just like, no, this is, he. But him moving up would be like, I'm not entertaining this fight anymore. I feel like he would be like almost like, objectively. He's like, I don't know. This is, this is time for me to move up.

It's just, you know, it's just, unfortunately, this isn't going to work because he's not there yet. And I'm on my way out. It is what it is. And then it would be like Inouye's a duck. And he's not going to hear it. He's not going to hear it at all. And then he's a duck. And then he's going to go fight Rafo Espinosa at 126.

That's what I mean. Inouye's a duck to go to 126, his billionth weight class, and fight guys. That are stuts. So much bigger than him. That may be better than any of the guys he fought. And they're the biggest. Yeah. I'm excited now because I thought we were running out of opponents for Inouye.

I thought, man, this guy's so damn good. I'm not done watching. and fight in Japan. I'm not done waking up early in the morning and watching this generational talent. But now we have like four or five fights for Inouye in the next couple of years between Bam and then what's waiting for him at 126. It's awesome. That's amazing.

So we maybe have like two, maybe two years, three years pushing it of Inouye testing himself and really, really, really becoming like an all-time time stats. And all of them would be big fights except for the very next fight. because there's no one for Inouye in the very next fight Oh yeah, I'm fine with that I'm fine with fighting like a mandatory Or I mean

And listen, Inouye's done it He's he's fought guys that were Not on the level in between Because he is so active Well that's the knock right As if you're looking for an inouye detractor He'll be like oh who are some of these guys He's fighting

That's the voice they talk That is He's not good anyway Who's even easy Inouet needs to fight in the US That's another one too I'm looking at 118.

Are you a little shocked that Robert's not like our next fights it'd be at 122? No. I'm not. I mean, yes, I am sure. One more,

in a perfect world, Bam would, he'd fight one more at 118, one more, one at 122, then Inouye. Then we're looking at like, in the 2028.

Yeah, that's, I don't think that's realistic. But the next fight should be Inouye's brother. It just makes such a good narrative. Oh, I have that in my notes. Yeah. It's In a ways brother's neck.

That is the next fight. I know they're talking about Christian Medina, the WBO champ. Metram has him. It's an easy fight to make. And I was talking to wherever about that yesterday. Like, that would be a very easy fight because of Eddie. But I think you bring BAM to Japan and he fights to Kuma. And then...

Bro, that's like rock and shit. Yeah, bro. Like, it's... No, it's kickboxer. You beat my brother. You know, now I got to go... But imagine the scene. It's like...

Bam coming over there, fighting his brother who has a WBC strength. Correct. He's a world champion. Isn't just like some brother. No offense to like Bobby Pacchio and those guys of the world. They were not on the level. He isn't just something like, oh, we're going to bring your brother in. This is the freaking WBC champ of 118, Takuma Inouye. You bring in Bam into Japan, a big venue.

The hype and the buildup with Inouye in the shadows, literally, with his brother. In the back with him. in the dressing room with his father. His father, the father's the trainer. The father, the brother, the brother, fighting him. It's everything. It's, it's, uh, it's theater. I see Bam knocking out Takuma and like as Takuma goes down, uh, the, the shot is right to

Nayawa. And he's locked in. No facial, no expression. Like, as Takuma's going down, shh, here comes Nayawa. And he's standing there. And he's staring at BAM. And BAM's pointing in him. You just wrote a script for an anime comic book.

That'd be amazing. Boxing anime. If we only lived in Japan where people actually have a thirst for that. You know, I can draw. Maybe I'll draw that up. I'll draw Bam and Nioa and Takuma and what's the father's name? I don't know, but he's a fucking G. I know his name.

Oh, I feel bad. He's such a good coach, too. Father Inouye. Oh, no. Bobby. Yeah, so we'll see. It's interesting. These are good problems to have. It's timing is everything in boxing. I want to see it. I'm in a lather for this fight. I was not six months ago, but now I want to see it. We're in this big fight era.

We have a ATM in Turkey financing these fights. So let's get it on. One more fight. Okay. This is the most realistic situation. Bam gets one more, 118. If you're If it's Takuma Inouye, that would be awesome. If it's Medina, fine. It's just all about Bam getting ready for this fight. He gets one more in September, October. Like that unification. Because then we have to get Inouye on the same schedule, too,

because Inouye usually likes to fight in December. All right, whatever. Both guys get one more fight in between, and then it's not going to happen in January. I think you get Inouye in September, Bam in October, and then they fight in January. May. Well, where are they?

I was thinking later in 2026. September, November, November, December, January. Because if Turkey wants January, he's pushing for January, and maybe you can push it off, push it off to May. You can do a big May card. I know it doesn't matter, like what month? It doesn't. But like January big fights?

Yeah, I don't know. It's true. But Japan likes the day like the New Year's Eve fights. It's Shingo. It's Shingo in a way, by the way. That was the name of the father. That's his dad's name. Got to show respect to Shingo.

Absolutely incredible, incredible trainer. Shingo. Shingo. I bow to. I knew the name, too, because I went to high school with a kid named Shingo. Shingo. He's a wrestler. He's very good.

Shout out. Shout out Shingo. What else we got going on? Did you watch the UFC at the White House card? I did not. It was a spectacle, man. I saw the scenes. They were doing walkouts.

Bro, the scenes, whatever your political stance is. Oh, let's not make it political. I mean. No, it turned into, it did turn into a political thing. You know, Josh Hokic says that Michelle Obama is a man. He's an idiot, though. Like, that's... ass what a dumb comment that was ruined the whole night for hand.

That's his whole stick. Control stick is, is, you know, pretending to be drunk at the way in, say off the wall thing. That's so annoying. Just no, just no frontal lobe to filter anything that he says.

Come on, man. Why did you say that? Like, I understand. Yeah, that's why I don't, they didn't even, they didn't. Because it's like a joke from like 10 years ago. Like, it's not even a joke.

Stupid. Anyway, um, if you watched that fight, the scenes were, insanity. Like, they were doing walkouts through the Oval Office. That's mind-blowing. Could you imagine that? Like, Chris, you're walking out?

You got some pretty cool walkouts, Barclays, MSG, UK, Paramount, Huntington. How can I forget? Those are pretty cool, too. Imagine walking through the Oval Office on your way to punch someone in the face? No, that would be surreal. Serreal wouldn't even be the word. I don't even know what that is. That would be like an acid. Like, how do you channel your adrenaline? Like, what is going on? How do you channel, like, the excitement? How do you channel like the excitement? How do you channel

that because that's such a unique atmosphere and such a unique setting. They're never going to do that again. They're never going to create anything closer. Trump and Dana White are holding hands. You're like, what the hell is? What is this fever-making out? What is this fever dream? I mean, the blue angels are flying across the sky. You're walking into a cage to go fight a man. Walking down the steps.

Crazy. Yeah. And Justin Gaci, the American, gets the win in the main event. Frickin' pieces up to Poria. I had Gachie winning this fight, and I didn't think he would win. I just thought, hey, that would be a cool story of the American underdog, the legend in UFC at age 37. Let's hear before all the old's out there. Goes in there, and he did it, like, at Tuporia's game. Like, I heard a lot of people telling me, like, oh, Gatio win his fight because of his leg kicks,

take downs, but he beat him at Tuporia's game. He's jabbing his counter right hand. Just jabbing his face off. Couldn't miss the right hand. Couldn't miss the right hand. Bro, and messed up Tuporea's face. And this is the same Teporia. who had the nerve, the audacity to call out Bud Crawford,

to call out Ryan Garcia, to say I can beat boxers. Humbolded. That guy is cocky. That is a cocky little man. Not anymore. He got exposed. Dude, his face, I'd never seen a face. His face was fucked up.

I mean, it was really off the jab. I mean, listen, you can't block his nose. You're going to beat Bud Crawford? You can't block a jab. Under his eyes were destroyed. Little, you could see his cheekbone. and it was bad. And the ref,

the ref essentially stopped it after round three and he talked him into letting him go out there. What was that? No. Have you ever seen a doctor overruled?

By a fighter? No. He literally got overruled by deporting. Well, the doctor said it's over and then like the corner was like, no. But like the doctor, literally, the doctor weighs his hand.

He's shaking his head, no, like, no. He's like, this guy can't see. He's literally doing this. He's like, no, he's not, he's not seeing my finger. And then he gets a lot of, you know, he's getting a lot of flack for quitting

and saying, on the stool, but it's like, I mean, he, he had his way out the round before. He, he just, you just can't take that much damage. Live to fire another day. He's 29 years old. I mean, not that he's not going to live, but he might not be the same after that. Oh, that's a beating, bro. That was a beating of a lifetime. And, you know, he's 29 years old. He's pound for pound number one in UFC. Like, that's the guy UFC probably wanted to win. Like, I think USC was hoping, like Gachi's done. I mean, there is a road where

if McGregor can beat Holloway, which is not going to be using. It's not going to happen either. McGregor versus Gachey for the unified championship would be some epic scenes. That would be what the UFC is salivating for. Fighting for the grandpa, the grandpa belt.

A bunch of old, a bunch of 35 plus guys. Love that. Pretty awesome. Love that. I mean, Holloway's old too. Holloway is not young. What is he?

I know he's not as old because he's, he's, he's been, fighting for so long. He's just been around forever. He's got to be 35, 36. He already fought McGregor. People, like, this is a rematch. So they're not even kind of billing it. But listen, McGregor also already beat Dustin Poillier and then get loses to him twice later on. So this is like, this looks like the same scenario. Like, yeah, he beat Holloway back in the day, dominated him. But Holloway is a lot fresher now. Yeah, it was a really good card. The scenes were wild. I was two for two of my picks. I was O for two. I was O for all of them. Actually,

Yeah, because I said, I was thinking, I was thinking Derek Lewis was going to win. I actually didn't think Pereira was going to win, but I was like, he's my guy. So I'm going to get my money on Pereira, although I didn't bet. I just, everything I thought about Pereira was came out to be true, unfortunately, is he put on too much weight. He was too slow. And people really sleep on Gone. No, Gons are an awesome striker and a very good athlete. He might be the best heavyweight in the world now.

He's going to hopefully get that asked about. In the day, I actually picked God to be John Jones, and John wouldn't strike with him. John just choked him out immediately. As soon as he got the opportunity, he's like, nope, you're done. I saw a lot of that talk. Like, once again, how good is John Jones? I think for many years he was the best fighter walking the planet. It's amazing.

He's got mad aura when I watched him link up with Rampage on that stream. Like, John Jones moves different. Yeah, because he can beat up every single person walking the planet. Like, no one can beat him up. Like, he can beat you in everything. He was a crazy high-level wrestler. He can kick you, he can punch you, he can knock you out, he can choke you out, everything. He literally does everything.

Well, Dana White says he's the best to ever do it. I agree. I agree. There were some boxing moments at the White House because we're living in this TKO world where they want everything under one umbrella and we want just combat to be owned by TKO. A little scary. But Tyson Fury, out of nowhere, has a walkout. they play his music

he comes down the steps of the White House were like, what the hell? Like I sat up. I was like, I didn't see this. This wasn't on the bingo card. What is hat saying? He had a hat with a weird something on it. Make Trump prime minister. Yeah, wow.

Talk about not making it ploy. And yeah, Tyson Fury comes out. Okay, keep in mind the Fury supposedly was not allowed in the States. This is his first time in the States since 2021. It's the whole Kenahan connection. Obviously, Donald Trump, ex-by that I did that process. He goes to with John Anick.

And John Anick, we got Tyson Fury here. He's got a big announcement. Tyson Fury gets a mic. I'm going to let Dana White do that announcement. And then end of segment. Bro, so weird. It was the most Tyson Fury boxing thing ever. And I think a lot of YMMA fans were like, what the hell was that?

You can't schedule that man to do things. Right. And us boxing fans are like, that's par for the course. That's Tyson Fury number one. That's also just boxing. where you think you're going to get something or think you're going to get a fight, thinking you're going to an announcement, and it's up being nothing. But it's pretty damn obvious what this all means. Tyson Fury is going to sign with Zufa. He posted on socials that Turkey is his promoter for the rest of his career. The main questions now is what does this mean for the Joshua fight? Is the Joshua fight next? Will it happen in the U.S.? Will it happen at all? Will Tyson Fury's next tune up happen in the States? That's what I think this is about. I think there'll be an official announcement.

Tyson Fury is your next big Zufa signing. Blah, who cares? He's at the end of his career. It doesn't really mean anything. Will his next fight be in the U.S. on a Zufa slash ring card before we get the Joshua fight? Because I still think we get the Joshua fight. I do too.

And I think it's exactly what you just said. I think that's the trail. The route. He's going to fight in the States. He's going to fight Joshua next. And I was talking about this yesterday. say, I don't think the fans care about any of this. I don't care about, we don't care about promoters.

We want the fights. As long as he still fights Anthony Joshua, who the hell cares? Who's promoting it? Exactly. That is, that is head-to-head bullshit between Eddie and Dana. We don't care about that. Like, that's their egos. That doesn't matter.

Give us the fights. That's all we want. I want to see the fights. Especially a fight like this. This isn't like, this isn't the heavy fight we have to see. These are two guys past it. One promoter, though, that I am interested. Where's Frank Warren and all this?

When do the lawsuits start dropping? That's what I mean. The only thing that's going to stop this fight from happening is going to be the political nonsense, lawsuits, litigation. Eddie Hearn's ego, Dana White's ego, Frank Warren's ego, everyone's saying that they have the right to promote this fight. Everyone's saying that we need to be in it. We need to be involved. It's just out of control at this point. Like I said, it's a big fight.

It's a very important fight. I want to see it. But this isn't like furiousic from a few years ago, where, where we're trying to figure out who's the best heavyweight undisputed type of fight. This isn't Tyson versus Lennox Lewis many years ago where we had to jump through hoops, one of the first ever fights that was on both Showtime and HBO.

Like this is not that. So now when we see all these millionaire, billionaires, promoters getting involved, this is when boxing fans are just like, ugh, really? All this for a Fury versus Joshua fight that should have happened 10 years ago? Yeah.

And then you got guys like Aga Kabeel who can't get a fight. Cabellio's better fight Usoc next. Like Usoc, you're not even on this. You're not in this discussion. Like Usoc, you're still. Agate has been circling around Tyson Fury they're talking about. Well, because I think that's, there's a world where they do fight. As a plan B for if Joshua a fight doesn't happen, which, you know, and, listen, that's not, that fight's not happening, by the way.

Agit is getting pushed to the side over and over again, and he said that. He's like. You don't think Ucic versus Cabell is happening? I actually do think that's the fight. I don't think we're Tyson. What's the fight you said? Tyson and Cabell. I don't think that fight is.

Oh, no, no. That's like a crazy, crazy, like, consolation. Like, a lot of things have to go wrong. They're basically, they're telling I get that. Like, no, no, just pipe down. If the Ussick fight doesn't happen, we'll give you this one. Meanwhile, that's never happening. But, yeah, I get said.

He's like, I'm tired of being looked over. Like, I deserve a title shot. And he's absolutely right. He does. He should be next. No, no, no. He's, like, mandated. And, like, though.

That doesn't mean anything in this sport, Dan. I know, I know. A kickboxer just fought for the title in front of him. Mandated. If Usik decides, if Usik decides to fight Verhoeven again and Cabell has to wait, there is a world where Fury can say, I'll fight Cabell for the title. And then that throws a wrench into everything. It's a dominoes.

Like in a perfect world, and the realistic thing here should be, Usik first Cabo, do it in Germany. Fall, it's going to mean an awesome scene. Usick wins that fight, whatever. Joshua Fury has to happen at Wembley. I don't care who's promoting it. Let Eddie walk out with Joshua. Let freaking Fury walk out with whoever he wants.

Like, who cares? It's just come down to these guys. It's an Eddie Hearned Dana White thing at this point. That's exactly what it is. And the fans don't care. We just want AJ and Tyson. right and Joshua has his tune up July 25th that this all worries me

the more time that is put in between this fight happening the more fights that are put in between this fight happening the further away this thing feels and not just for not just time wise just because so many things can go wrong right they can lose they can get cut they can get hurt they can lose they can look bad any there's so many

there's just so many open doors for things to go bad and then the political stuff of it the infighting with the promoters, the contract disputes. Like, Fury, it took them forever to get that second Wilder fight. Both the guys took a number of tuneups, if I'm not mistaken, and nonsense contractual issues for a fight at that point that we had to see. Fury Wilder, too, was important. Joshua Fury is not as important.

It's a spectacle. It's a good spectacle. It's a good fight. Good spectacle. Oh, it's awesome. I agree. But is it worth all this nonsense that's going on that's only going to get worse over the next couple of weeks and months?

It's only worth it because of how much money is involved and the promoters. That's why it's got to be. It's got to be. I think Hearn deserves to be part of it. I think Frank Warren deserves to be part of it. Turkey obviously is going to finance it. Dana White does not deserve to be part of it. But he's the figurehead of Zufa.

He is the promoter. Turkey's the financier and Dana's the promoter now. Like it used to be Frank. and Eddie, but they're gone now. Turkey dumped them. And Turkey's new, shiny boyfriend slash girlfriend is Dana White. Dana White, who doesn't answer to anybody?

Yeah, you answer to Turkey, Al-Sheek. Dana. All right. With that being said, have a great weekend. We're going to have a very special episode of Inside Boxing on the next episode. A Father's Day inspired episode. Hope you all enjoy that.

Anything, Chris? I'm going to be headed to the Nick's Parade on Thursday, Pray for me. Yes, I will. I'll light a candle. That's going to be a scene. And better than you than me, my friend. Let me put it that way.

I'm not going to be there at night. Sundown is when, it's like back of the day when you were a kid, and once the sun went down, once the street lights came on. It's when the zombies come out. You got to go home. The Knicks parade, once it gets into like 8 p.m. hour? No, you should be long gone by then. I need to be home on my couch because I'm old.

You should hang out and then go to a steakhouse. Do real old man stuff. That's the plan. Like, everyone's asking me, what's the plan? I'm getting texts like, yo, what's your plan for the parade?

Like, there is no plan. There's five million people trying to get to the same spot, a very narrow canyon of heroes in downtown Manhattan. And your Knicks pride, you're blue and your orange. Exactly. Drink a gluten-free beer.

You get, you sweat a lot, you get elbowed in the face a bunch of times. Someone steps on your, your shoes get destroyed. People step all over your shoes. They wear in bad sneakers. Yeah,

You get to wear a bearer's thinking. Shoes get destroyed. And then you leave and you go home exhausted and you go have a steak and then you go to sleep early. That's my plan is to get there early, get a few picks, maybe do some content for Fandle. Go like sliver out, get to a bar slash restaurant, eat something good, get on the Long Island Railroad before it turns into a vomit. Yeah, that's another thing. That train is going to be rough on the way home. Dude, the subways are going to be packed to the gills.

Everyone's getting down to, I don't know, people out there, Manhattan. I'm getting less and less jealous of your flex. Yeah. Lower Manhattan is so, like, everything gets more condensed than, like, the area that this Canyon of Heroes is, it's from Battery Park to City Hall. It's only one mile, and it's a very condensed, like, dense, narrow streets Broadway. And they're expecting three million people, they said, which is a million more than any Yankee parade or New York Giants.

I went to both the Yankee parade and the Giants parade for the most recent championships. And that was the most people I've ever seen in a lot of place. This is the Knicks, who the entire city is rallied around. So they said maybe three or four million. It's absurd. New York's a vibe, man.

New York is a place to be. We've been down for a few years. We haven't won anything in like 15 years. Horrible winters. COVID just destroyed this city. it is so back. The vibes are so high. I'm going to get trampled on Thursday. I'm going to get stomped on.

I'm going to probably throw up. Do you have steel toe boots? It's supposed to be very... I was going to say in June, it's going to be really hot. They said it like, it said to feel like 95 with a thunderstorm. Nice. Plus the 3 million people. Oh, yeah, baby.

Oh, nowhere else I'd rather be. You're like talking your... You're talking yourself out of it right now. Yeah, I probably won't go. Morning of. I'm good. I'm going to watch it on TV and lay by my pool here on Long Island. All right, everyone, have a great weekend or week. We're not signing off for the weekend yet.

But we'll see you the next time here on Inside Boxing. Protect yourselves at all time. Keep your hands up at all times. Say those DMs.