The fate of the International Boxing Federation’s bantamweight title is likely to become volatile following the recent announcement of the retirement from boxing of IBF bantamweight champion Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico in his social media, boxing sources said on Oct. 21.

  The 31-year-old Rodriguez, who won the vacant IBF title by decisioning Melvin Lopez of Nicaragua last August for his second IBF title of the division, said in his Facebook recently to the effect that he has made the decision to hang up the gloves by putting lots of things into proper perspective.

  But his retirement, if put into effect really, would involve Japanese bantamweight boxers without fail, according to the sources.

  Ryosuke Nishida of Muto Boxing Gym is currently ranked top in the division after decisioning Christian Medina of Mexico in an elimination bout for the IBF title in Osaka only a day before Rodriguez captured the title.

  Nobody is ranked second in the division, and Reymart Gaballo of the Philippines is ranked third while Keita Kurihara of Ichirishi Boxing Gym, who was knocked out by Froilan Saludar of the Philippines in the first round on Oct. 12, is ranked fourth.

Meanwhile, Sho Ishida of Ioka Boxing Gym is ranked fifth and Japanese bantamweight champion Seiya Tsutsumi of Kadoebi Boxing Gym is ranked sixth in the division.

  Rodrigues is best known for Japanese fans when he was knocked out in the second round by Naoya ‘’the Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series in May 2019 in Britain. Though Rodriguez was knocked out, he fought very well in the first round by displaying crisp left hooks and short straight rights, they added.