By Norm Frauenheim
It’s beginning to feel as though boxing has entered a statement season, as in delivering one.
Dmitry Bivol delivered last Saturday, beating an overmatched German in Russia, yet the message from Bivol was within his performance.
Bivol, still as flawless as any sweet scientist against challenger-without-a-chance Michael Eifert, showed there’s been no evident erosion in the light-heavyweight’s comprehensive skillset after back surgery and a long stretch of inactivity following his rematch victory over Artur Beterbiev.
He knows what he’s doing. But what will he do next? There are plenty of rumors, but no sources and zero hints from Bivol, a quiet Russian who is as taciturn as he is skillful.
The real – for now, only — news is that he’s back in the conversation, including the pound-for-pound debate. He’s among the second five after falling out of the subjective ratings altogether. His options are as viable as ever, including a third fight with Beterbiev and/or a date with newly minted cruiserweight champion David Benavidez, who also continues to hold a light-heavyweight belt.
For Bivol, the task was to restore leverage, his negotiating power and presence for whatever possibility — Beterbiev or Benavidez – develops.
Statement delivered.
Now, it’s Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’ turn.
Bam’s chance will be there June 13 in Glendale, AZ, a few miles of roadwork from Benavidez childhood home in west Phoenix.
That’s when and where Bam can further his pursuit of a showdown with current pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue at Desert Diamond Arena in a bantamweight debut against Antonio Vargas, who isn’t given much more of a chance than Eifert had against Bivol.
Eifert was a 25-to-1 underdog, according to various betting sites. At opening bell, the odds facing Vargas might be even bigger. The spread ranges from 25-to-1 to 33-to-1, according to numbers posted this week, also by various betting sites.
Translation: Bam is considered a virtual lock. Like Bivol, the significance – message – is within how he wins.
A few weeks ago during a media workout at Central Boxing in Phoenix, Bam, already a two-division champion, said he thought a fight with Inoue was inevitable. Since then, there have been multiple stories about Bam-Inoue, still a dream fight. A Netflix interest was reported. Even a projected time frame for the much discussed, much anticipated possibility has been mentioned. Some speculation has it happening in early 2027
That’s not inevitable, but it is momentum, the kind that could make it happen. So far, Inoue, who is coming off a defense of his undisputed junior featherweight title against Junto Nakatani, has been about as talkative as Bivol.
Inoue has talked about moving to featherweight. He’s also has mentioned Bam. But now Japan’s Rising Son is quiet, perhaps waiting to see what kind of message Bam delivers against Vargas.
About a week ago, Vargas was declared the World Boxing Association’s 118-pound champ. The acronym’s move was merely a paper shuffle. Vargas had held a secondary belt. For Bam, it’s an opportunity – perhaps a gift. He can add a third division title to his resume.
But a long stop at bantam has never been in the Bam plan. On his blueprint, 118 pounds is another step toward his inevitable. Always has been.
A convincing performance could move Bam closer. Currently, he’s a consensus No. 3 in pound-for-pound ratings, behind No. 1 Inoue and No. 2 Oleksandr Usyk. But there are doubts about Usyk after his problematic victory over kick boxer Rico Verhoeven May 23 in Egypt.
A dominant Bam on June 13 could vault him over Usyk into the No. 2 spot. No. 1 versus-No. 2 is a classic scenario in what would be the biggest little-guy fight in history. Maybe those stories about Netflix’s interest are accurate.
Only Bam can make sure of it with the delivery of another convincing statement.
