Previous to his knockout win over Pedro Guevara, pint-sized puncher ‘Bam’ spoke to Rob Tebbutt…
JESSE RODRIGUEZ has established himself as top-of-the-line 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 Could, the meteoric rise of ‘Bam’ reveals little signal of slowing.
“Yeah. I imply, it was an incredible battle. I really feel like that was my finest efficiency to this point,” Rodriguez advised Boxing Information.
“Particularly with an opponent like Estrada. He’s a legend in all of boxing, so to deal with him the way in which I did, it reveals quite a bit about who I’m.
“It [the Estrada fight] was just a little bit totally different, simply because it was his territory, being in Phoenix, however I dealt with that effectively as effectively. So, like I mentioned, 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 aspect of his sport 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 wanting again at it, I ought to have listened to my coaches. They advised 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 discovered. Rapidly. After steadying the ship within the sixth, Rodriguez would end the spherical on high, 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 rely 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 elements of the battle at the very least, was as aggressive as anybody has been with ‘Bam’.
A rematch, nevertheless, would fail to materialise; with Estrada selecting to go in a unique route as he approaches the tip of his Corridor of Fame-worthy profession. Who might blame him? Particularly when revisiting the sickening impression of the body-shot that will 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 search out out that he pulled out, and that’s why we ended up right here preventing Pedro Guevara [in Philadelphia on November 9]. However, I imply, it’s what it’s. That’s his determination. 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 day out, is a far cry from the top-level opposition that has introduced out the perfect in Rodriguez to date.
However, ‘Bam’ stays centered on replicating his stellar showings in opposition to a few of 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 get rid of Guevara, a defeat merely unimaginable.
“I really feel like, to different individuals, 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 listing now, so I gotta go on the market and enhance on it.
“I don’t need to attempt too onerous to look spectacular. I’ve simply acquired to go on the market and take it simply as some other battle. In my previous two fights, the way in which I carried out is the way in which I’ve acquired to carry out November 9. Come battle night time, I’ll be able to take what I discovered from these fights and I’ll be extra prepared, mentally and bodily.”
Rodriguez’s return may also see him kind 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 broadly thought-about to be two future superstars of American and, certainly, world boxing.
With the cardboard happening on the 21,000 capability Wells Fargo Middle in Ennis’ house metropolis of Philadelphia, Rodriguez himself is happy for the chance to showcase his skills 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 show my preventing fashion to the East Coast.
“I haven’t fought on the East Coast ever, not whilst an novice. It’s a chance to show my expertise, my profession, and to share it with ‘Boots’ – top-of-the-line in all of boxing – it’s an honour.”
The pairing of two of boxing’s high tier skills has been largely well-received by boxing followers, with ‘Boots/Bam’ becoming a member of ‘GGG/Chocolatito’ and, extra lately, ‘Benavidez/Tank’ as a uncommon alternative to see two star-fighters seemingly content material in sharing the highlight.
The actual fact can’t be escaped, nevertheless, 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 quick 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 identify that has to date eluded Rodriguez’s grasp: the nice Nicaraguan Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.
Beforehand, a bout with Gonzalez had been thought to have been a non-starter, as a result of needs of Teiken Promotions powerhouse Akihiko Honda who promotes each Rodriguez (alongside Matchroom Boxing) and Chocolatito.
Nevertheless, latest studies steered the fantasy match-up could possibly be again on the desk, probably 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 mentioned, If the unification fights don’t come after this one [Guevara], then it’s a battle that we might be occupied with if he [Gonzalez] is with it too.
“So, if it occurs, it occurs. If not, there’s different fighters that I need 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 Common 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 possibility 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’d 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 might 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’d battle [WBA and IBF champion Fernando Daniel] Martinez on the market [in Saudi], go for undisputed. That’d be an incredible 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 skills of a era.
The desert might be the perfect place for him.
