Rodriguez first has to get through WBA bantamweight champion Antonio Vargas on June 13 in Phoenix. Hearn stressed that Vargas presents a difficult assignment, but said a victory could immediately open the door to a move up to 122 pounds for a showdown with Inoue.

“But the world is awaiting it. Probably outside of Fury-AJ, probably the biggest fight out there. Really, with Usyk coming towards the end, it’s gonna be pound-for-pound No. 1 against pound-for-pound No. 2. If Bam comes through in Phoenix, he just wants the biggest fights.

“He doesn’t want to be around for five or six years, he wants to fight everybody now, and now is the time, if he comes through Vargas, for Bam against Inoue. What a fight. The biggest in the lower classes for many, many decades. But Vargas awaits.”

Hearn also revealed that Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has discussed the fight, and said the current thinking is for Rodriguez-Inoue to take place in either December or January.

“Yeah, I think they’re talking about December or January for that fight. Bam would have six months to wait. It wouldn’t be a problem. Bam loves Japan, he loves it. He goes there on holiday. He don’t care where the fight is. Make the fight. It’ll be a tough challenge first, but if he comes through that, Bam vs Inoue, why wait?”

Any talk of Rodriguez facing Inoue remains dependent on Bam defeating Vargas next month. If he does, Hearn made it clear that a move to super bantamweight and a fight against Inoue is the direction his team wants to pursue.