Naoya Inoue says he is done waiting on Bam Rodriguez and will start getting ready for featherweight

Naoya Inoue is tired of waiting. The undisputed junior featherweight champion from Japan said on social media Tuesday that he will start getting ready for a move up to featherweight instead of holding out for a fight with Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez.

"I have no intention of sitting around waiting for Bam," Inoue wrote in Japanese. He said he would begin preparing to go up to the 126-pound division.

A superfight on hold

Inoue defended his titles against fellow Japanese star Junto Nakatani in May at the Tokyo Dome. Soon after, Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh said he wanted to make Inoue vs. Rodriguez. Inoue accepted and there were reports the fight could happen in early 2027.

Rodriguez moved up to the 118-pound bantamweight division in June and stopped Antonio Vargas to win the WBA title. His trainer and manager Robert Garcia wants him to have one more fight at that weight before he takes on Inoue.

That fight was supposed to be against Christian Medina, possibly on the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury card. That show has since moved to Dec. 11 in Cardiff, Wales, which left Rodriguez's plans up in the air.

Garcia said on Sunday that if Rodriguez fights in December, an Inoue fight could be made for April or May of 2027.

Hearn fires back

Rodriguez's promoter Eddie Hearn answered Inoue on social media within hours. "Who's waiting? You said you are fighting in Feb/March? We are ready," Hearn wrote.

Inoue has already won world titles in four weight classes. A move to featherweight would give him a shot at a fifth.