Previous to his knockout win over Pedro Guevara, pint-sized puncher ‘Bam’ spoke to Rob Tebbutt…
JESSE RODRIGUEZ has established himself as probably the greatest fighters on the planet.
The 24-year-old has been tearing via the decrease weights since capturing his first world title again in February 2022 and, with a damaging seventh spherical stoppage win over Mexican legend Juan Francisco Estrada again in Might, the meteoric rise of ‘Bam’ exhibits little signal of slowing.
“Yeah. I imply, it was an ideal battle. I really feel like that was my finest efficiency so far,” Rodriguez instructed Boxing Information.
“Particularly with an opponent like Estrada. He’s a legend in all of boxing, so to deal with him the best way I did, it exhibits loads about who I’m.
“It [the Estrada fight] was somewhat bit totally different, simply because it was his territory, being in Phoenix, however I dealt with that properly as properly. So, like I stated, it simply goes to indicate not solely as a fighter, however as an individual, that’s who I’m.”
The bout in opposition to Estrada would afford Rodriguez the chance to showcase a facet of his recreation that, up to now, hadn’t been required: his mettle.
Billed as a ‘Passing of The Torch’ between generations previous and new, the motion itself would dwell as much as lofty pre-fight expectations. Estrada was knocked down within the fourth, earlier than returning the favour within the sixth; sending Rodriguez to the canvas for the primary time in his profession, courtesy of a pointy proper hand.
“Yeah. I imply, it was a studying expertise,” Rodriguez grins.
“Now that I’m trying again at it, I ought to have listened to my coaches. They instructed me to not get too comfy: that’s what I did. That’s why I ended up on the canvas. I simply must be taught the lesson, to concentrate, to not get lazy, and simply to hearken to my coach always.”
The lesson was realized. Shortly. After steadying the ship within the sixth, Rodriguez would end the spherical on prime, earlier than a crunching left-uppercut to the mid-section within the remaining seconds of the seventh noticed Estrada dropped as soon as extra. This time, the referee would attain a depend of 10 whereas ‘El Gallo’ lay flat on his again, writhing in agony whereas Rodriguez rejoiced.
Estrada, a proud champion stopped for the primary time in a storied 48-fight profession, would rapidly sign his intention to invoke his contracted rematch clause. He had, in fact, been the primary to knock Rodriguez down and, for components of the battle at the very least, was as aggressive as anybody has been with ‘Bam’.
A rematch, nonetheless, would fail to materialise; with Estrada selecting to go in a special path as he approaches the tip of his Corridor of Fame-worthy profession. Who may blame him? Particularly when revisiting the sickening impression of the body-shot that might put a juddering halt to his reign as champion.
“Oh, yeah, that’s what we had been anticipating [the immediate rematch] proper after the battle.
“It was within the contract already to have a rematch. So, I imply, we waited like two months simply to seek out out that he pulled out, and that’s why we ended up right here combating Pedro Guevara [in Philadelphia on November 9]. However, I imply, it’s what it’s. That’s his choice. I gotta respect on the finish of the day.”
Estrada’s withdrawal sees Rodriguez face Mexican Guevara who, whereas coming off of a career-best win himself over Australia’s Andrew Moloney final outing, is a far cry from the top-level opposition that has introduced out the most effective in Rodriguez up to now.
Nonetheless, ‘Bam’ stays centered on replicating his stellar showings in opposition to among the sport’s marquee names, albeit in a battle he’ll enter as an awesome favorite. The one query for many being how emphatically Rodriguez will eliminate Guevara, a defeat merely unimaginable.
“I really feel like, to different folks, it is a showcase battle, however to me, it’s simply as harmful as my previous two fights. I’m on the pound-for-pound record now, so I gotta go on the market and enhance on it.
“I don’t wish to attempt too laborious to look spectacular. I’ve simply bought to go on the market and take it simply as every other battle. In my previous two fights, the best way I carried out is the best way I’ve bought to carry out November 9. Come battle evening, I’ll be able to take what I realized from these fights and I’ll be extra prepared, mentally and bodily.”
Rodriguez’s return can even see him type one-half of a tantalising new ‘double-act’ alongside IBF welterweight champion and promotional stable-mate Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. The duo, each signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, are extensively thought of to be two future superstars of American and, certainly, world boxing.
With the cardboard happening on the 21,000 capability Wells Fargo Heart in Ennis’ dwelling metropolis of Philadelphia, Rodriguez himself is happy for the chance to showcase his abilities to a brand new viewers, this time on America’s east coast. To take action alongside one other fighter of Ennis’ calibre is one other welcome bonus.
“This can be a big alternative for me, not solely to battle on an enormous card, however to reveal my combating fashion to the East Coast.
“I haven’t fought on the East Coast ever, not at the same time as an beginner. It’s a chance to reveal my abilities, my profession, and to share it with ‘Boots’ – probably the greatest in all of boxing – it’s an honour.”
The pairing of two of boxing’s prime tier abilities has been largely well-received by boxing followers, with ‘Boots/Bam’ becoming a member of ‘GGG/Chocolatito’ and, extra just lately, ‘Benavidez/Tank’ as a uncommon alternative to see two star-fighters seemingly content material in sharing the highlight.
The very fact can’t be escaped, nonetheless, that each Ennis and Rodriguez enter their respective bouts as sizeable favourites. Whereas Ennis has up to now struggled to safe fights with the largest names at welterweight, Rodriguez already boasts a slew of top-notch victories in his comparatively brief profession on the highest degree.
With dominant victories over three of the consensus ‘4 Kings’ at super-flyweight in Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and the aforementioned Estrada, there stays one title that has up to now eluded Rodriguez’s grasp: the good Nicaraguan Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.
Beforehand, a bout with Gonzalez had been thought to have been a non-starter, because of the needs of Teiken Promotions powerhouse Akihiko Honda who promotes each Rodriguez (alongside Matchroom Boxing) and Chocolatito.
Nonetheless, latest studies advised the fantasy match-up may very well be again on the desk, doubtlessly in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. Whereas ‘Bam’ was fast to quash the tales as ‘faux information’, he refused to rule out a future battle with the legendary four-weight world champion.
“Yeah, I imply, it was sort of faux information. Robert [Garcia] cleared that up on Twitter. He stated, If the unification fights don’t come after this one [Guevara], then it’s a battle that we’d be serious about if he [Gonzalez] is with it too.
“So, if it occurs, it occurs. If not, there’s different fighters that I wish to battle.”
The emergence of Rodriguez as an elite degree operator has run parallel with one other rise to-power in boxing.
Turki Alalshikh, the pinnacle of Saudi Arabia’s Normal Leisure Authority, has rapidly established himself as a key determine within the sport with the introduction of Saudi’s Riyadh Season occasions. With rumours swirling relating to Rodriguez showing on a Riyadh Season card within the close to future, it’s an choice that not solely appeals to the San Antonio-native, however is already specified by the phrases of his contract.
“I signed a brand new cope with Matchroom, and [fighting in] Saudi Arabia is definitely within the contract,” Rodriguez confirmed to BN. “If I do battle on the market, they’ve my purse prepared. That’s one other place I might like to battle.”
With Saudi Arabia already taking part in host to 2 undisputed title fights in Fury vs Usyk and Beterbiev vs Bivol in 2024 alone, Rodriguez is hopeful that the riches on provide by Alalshikh and GEA may see him land his personal alternative to unify all 4 belts within the 115lbs division.
“I really feel like if it had been as much as me, I might battle [WBA and IBF champion Fernando Daniel] Martinez on the market [in Saudi], go for undisputed. That’d be an ideal battle.”
Whether or not the longer term features a journey to Saudi, San Antonio or someplace in between, Rodriguez, at solely 24-years-old, has already cemented himself as one of many hottest abilities of a technology.
The desert might be the most effective place for him.
