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Before defeating Pedro Guevara, pint-sized puncher ‘Bam’ spoke to Rob Tebbutt…
JESSE RODRIGUEZ has established himself as one of the best fighters in the world.
The 24-year-old has been going through a downward spiral since winning his first world championship in February 2022, with a devastating seventh-round victory over Mexican legend Juan Francisco Estrada in May, the meteoric rise of ‘Bam’ shows. little sign of delay.
“Yes. I mean, it was a big fight. I feel like I’m doing really well so far,” Rodriguez said Boxing news.
“Especially with an opponent like Estrada. He’s a legend in all of boxing, so to handle him the way I did, it shows a lot of who I am.
“It (Estrada’s fight) it was a little different, just that it was part of it, being in Phoenix, but I handled it well too. So, like I said, it just shows not as a fighter, but as a person, that’s who I am. “
A fight against Estrada would give Rodriguez a chance to show off a side of his game that, until now, he hasn’t needed: his skill.
Billed as the ‘Passing of The Torch’ between the old and new generations, the event would meet high pre-war expectations. Estrada was knocked down in the fourth, before returning the favor in the sixth; sending Rodriguez to the canvas for the first time in his career, with the help of a sharp right hand.
“Yes. I mean, it was an experience,” Rodriguez said.
“Looking back now, I should have listened to my teachers. They told me not to be too open: that’s what I did. That’s why I ended up on the canvas. I just need to learn the lesson, pay attention, not be lazy, and always listen to my teacher. “
Lesson learned. Quickly. After stopping the train in the sixth, Rodriguez finished the round on top, before a left hook in the middle of the seventh seconds saw Estrada knocked down again. This time, the player reached 10 as ‘El Gallo’ lay on his back, writhing in pain as Rodriguez cheered.
Estrada, the proud first-time champion in 48 fights, will soon show that he wants to call for a rematch. He was, of course, the first to knock Rodriguez down and, in other parts of the fight, he was as competitive as anyone has been with ‘Bam’.
Repetition, however, cannot be done; and Estrada is choosing to go a different route as he nears the end of his Hall of Fame career. Who can blame him? Especially when looking back at the pain of the body shots that would end his reign as a hero.
“Oh, yes, that’s what we expected (immediate competition) right after the fight.
“It was already in the contract to have a rematch. So, I mean, we waited like two months to find out that he was out, that’s why we ended up fighting Pedro Guevara (in Philadelphia on November 9). But, I mean, it is what it is. That’s the idea I should be honored at the end of the day.”
Estrada’s exit sees Rodriguez face Mexico’s Guevara who, while he had a good win over Australia’s Andrew Moloney last time out, is a far cry from the top opponents who have brought out the best in Rodriguez to date.
However, ‘Bam’ is still focused on building on his impressive performances against some of the biggest names in the sport, even in a fight where he will be the favourite. The only question for many is how Rodriguez will lose to Guevara, an unprecedented defeat.
“I feel like, for some people, this is an exhibition fight, but for me, it’s as dangerous as my last two fights. I’m on pound-for-pound write now, so I have to go out there and correct it.
“I don’t want to put in too much effort to look good.” I just have to go out there and take it like any other fight. In my last two fights, the way I did and the way I have to do on November 9. Come fight night, I will be ready to take what I learned from those fights and I will be more prepared, mentally and physically. .”
Rodriguez’s return will also see him form half of a new ‘double-act’ alongside IBF welterweight champion and promotion partner Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. The pair, signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, are considered two of the future champions of America and boxing around the world.
With the card taking place at the 21,000 capacity Wells Fargo Center in the city of Ennis in Philadelphia, Rodriguez himself is happy that he has the opportunity to show his skills to a new audience, this time on the shores of America. Doing this alongside another Ennis-type warrior is another welcome bonus.
“This is a great opportunity for me, not only to fight on the main card, but to show how I fight on the East Coast.
“I’ve never fought on the East Coast before, even as a youngster. It’s an opportunity to show my skills, my work, and to share with ‘Boots’ – one of the best in boxing – it’s an honor.
The pairing of two top boxing talents has been well received by boxing fans, with ‘Boots/Bam’ joining ‘GGG/Chocolatito’ and more recently, ‘Benavidez/Tank’ as a rare opportunity to see two superstars – the fighters seem content to share the spotlight.
The fact cannot be changed, however, that Ennis and Rodriguez enter their respective groups as their favorites. While Ennis has struggled to secure fights with the big names at welterweight, Rodriguez is already boasting some impressive wins in his short career at the highest level.
With major victories over three of the ‘Four Kings’ union at super-flyweight in Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and the aforementioned Estrada, there remains one name that has so far eluded Rodriguez: the great Nicaraguan Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.
Previously, the fight with Gonzalez was considered a non-starter, due to the demands of Teiken Promotions. powerhouse Akihiko Honda who promotes both Rodriguez (along with Matchroom Boxing) and Chocolatito.
However, recent reports suggest that the game could be on the table again, possibly in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. While ‘Bam’ was quick to dismiss the reports as ‘fake news’, he refused to rule out a future fight with the world’s top four-weight champion.
“Yeah, I mean, it was like fake news. Robert (Garcia) he explained this on Twitter. He said, If the alliance fights don’t come after this one (Group)that’s the fight we can enjoy like him (González) too.
“So, if it happens, it happens. If not, there are other fighters I want to fight.
Rodriguez’s emergence as an elite fighter has been accompanied by another rise in the sport of boxing.
Turki Alalshikh, head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, established himself as a key player in sports and established the Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia. events. It is rumored that Rodriguez will appear in the Riyadh Season Recently, the card is a method that is not interested in San Antonio-natives, but has already been put in the terms of his contract.
“I signed a new contract with Matchroom, and (to fight) Saudi Arabia is in the contract,” Rodriguez confirmed BN. “If I fight there, they have my bag. That’s another place I’d love to fight.”
While Saudi Arabia has already staged two unlikely fights in Fury vs Usyk and Beterbiev vs Bivol in 2024 alone, Rodriguez is hopeful that the wealth provided by Alalshikh and GEA could see him get his chance to unify all four belts at 115lbs. divisions.
“I feel like if it was up to me, I would fight (WBA and IBF champion Fernando Daniel) Martinez out there (in Saudi), go without a doubt. That would be a great fight.”
Whether the future includes a trip to Saudi, San Antonio or elsewhere, Rodriguez, at just 24 years old, has already established himself as one of the hottest talents of the generation.
The desert would be the best place for him.
