Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Reportedly Targeting WBA Bantamweight Title Shot Against Antonio Vargas

Unified super flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is reportedly preparing to move up to bantamweight to challenge WBA titleholder Antonio Vargas. Julius Julianis reported via X.com that the bout is being targeted next for both men.

Report: Rodriguez moving to bantamweight for Vargas title fight

Rodriguez currently holds The Ring junior bantamweight title along with the WBC, WBO, and WBA super flyweight championships.

According to Julianis, the unbeaten champion is expected to move up to 118lbs for a challenge against Vargas, whose status within the WBA title structure is likely to shift again amid ongoing injury issues with current holder Seiya Tsutsumi .

Hearn targeting May–June return in San Antonio

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that Rodriguez’s next fight is being planned alongside trainer Robert Garcia. The proposed return is being targeted for the end of May or early June.

Hearn is also eyeing a homecoming bout for Rodriguez in San Antonio, Texas, where the two-weight star has previously drawn strong support.

WBA bantamweight title picture reshaped by Tsutsumi injury

The WBA bantamweight situation has been complicated over the past year.

In summer 2025, Seiya Tsutsumi was forced to vacate the WBA title and was designated “Champion in Recess” after failing to meet a mandatory consolidation bout with Vargas, who was elevated to full champion.

Vargas himself was later granted “Champion in Recess” status following a personal family tragedy that prevented him from facing Tsutsumi last fall. Tsutsumi’s reign was then reinstated, and his scheduled bout with Nonito Donaire was elevated from an interim contest to a title consolidation fight.

Tsutsumi defeated Donaire by split decision over 12 rounds on December 17, 2025, at Kokugikan in Tokyo. He was due to defend the WBA bantamweight title against Vargas on April 11 on the Tenshin–Estrada undercard, but the fight has been scrapped after Tsutsumi was unable to recover from facial fractures sustained in the Donaire bout.

With Tsutsumi sidelined beyond the WBA’s 120-day deadline for the mandatory consolidation fight, the organization now appears prepared to elevate Vargas to full champion again ahead of a potential bout with Rodriguez.

Rodriguez still one belt away from super flyweight undisputed

Rodriguez, 23-0, last fought on November 22, 2025, stopping Fernando Martinez at Ring IV: Night of the Champions in a bout contested for the WBC, WBO, and WBA super flyweight titles.

Despite the potential move to bantamweight, Rodriguez remains one title short of undisputed status at 115lbs. IBF champion Willibaldo Garcia currently holds the final belt and is scheduled to defend it against mandatory challenger Andrew Moloney next month in Kyrgyzstan.

Eddie Hearn has previously hinted that Rodriguez could move to bantamweight to pursue a title in a third weight class before returning to attempt to unify against the winner of Garcia vs. Moloney later in 2026.

Vargas coming off rare unanimous draw with Higa

Vargas enters the proposed bout with a record of 19-1-1, with 11 knockouts. His most recent appearance came on July 30, 2025, when he fought Daigo Higa to a rare unanimous draw over 12 rounds in Yokohama, Japan.

If finalized, Rodriguez’s move to bantamweight could temporarily pause his pursuit of undisputed status at super flyweight while opening the door for the 23-0 champion to capture a world title in a third weight division.