Ahead of his knockout victory over Pedro Guevara, the ‘Bam’ bander spoke to Rob Tebbutt…
JESSE RODRIGUEZ he has established himself as one of the best fighters on the planet.
The 24-year-old is tearing up at the lowest weights since capturing his first world title in February 2022 and, with a devastating seventh-round stoppage win over Mexican legend Juan Francisco Estrada in May, ‘Bam’s meteoric rise is on display. little sign of slowing down.
“Yes. I mean, it was a big fight. I feel like that was my best performance to date,” 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 says a lot about who I am.
“It’s (Estrada’s fight) it was a little different, just because it was his territory, which was in Phoenix, but I handled that well, too. So, like I said, it doesn’t just come across as a fighter, but as a person, that’s who I am.”
The fight against Estrada would give Rodriguez a chance to show off a side of his game that, until now, hasn’t been called for: his power.
Billed as the ‘Passing of The Torch’ between the old and new generations, the action itself would live up to the high expectations ahead of the match. Estrada was taken down in the fourth, before returning the favor in the sixth. sending Rodriguez to the canvas for the first time in his career thanks to a sharp right hand.
“Yes. I mean, it was a learning experience,” Rodriguez smiles.
“Looking back on it now, I should have listened to my coaches. I was told not to get too comfortable: that’s what I did. That’s why I ended up on canvas. I just have to learn the lesson, pay attention, not be lazy and just listen to my coach at all times.”
Lesson learned. Quickly. After steadying the ship in the sixth, Rodriguez would end the round on top, before a crisp left uppercut to the midsection in the remaining seconds of the seventh saw Estrada go down once again. This time, the referee made it to 10 while ‘El Gallo’ lay on his back, writhing in agony while Rodriguez rejoiced.
Estrada, a proud champion who was stopped for the first time in a storied 48-fight career, would quickly signal his intention to invoke his contractual rematch clause. Of course, he was the first to drop Rodriguez and, at least for parts of the fight, he was as competitive as anyone with ‘Bam’.
However, a rematch will not take place. with Estrada choosing to go in a different direction as he nears the end of his Hall of Fame-worthy career. Who could blame him? Especially when we revisit the sickening impact of the body shot that would bring his reign as champion to a screeching halt.
“Oh yeah, that’s what we expected (the immediate rematch) right after the fight.
“It was already in the contract to have a rematch. I mean, we waited about two months to find out he retired, and that’s why we ended up here fighting Pedro Guevara (in Philadelphia on November 9). But, I mean, it is what it is. This is his decision. I have to respect at the end of the day.”
Estrada’s exit sees Rodriguez face Mexico’s Guevara, who, while beating Australian Andrew Moloney last time out coming off a career-best, is far from the top-level opposition that has brought out the best in Rodriguez so far.
Nevertheless, ‘Bam’ remains focused on replicating his stellar performances against some of the marquee names in the sport, albeit in a fight he will enter as overwhelming favourites. The only question for most is how emphatically Rodriguez will dispose of Guevara, a defeat simply unthinkable.
“I feel like, for other people, this is a showcase fight, but for me, it’s just as dangerous as my previous two fights. I’m on pound for pound list now so I have to go out there and improve it.
“I don’t want to try too hard to look impressive. I just have to go out there and take it like any other fight. In my last two fights, the way I played is the way I have to play on November 9th. Come fight night, I’ll be ready to take what I’ve learned from these fights and be more prepared, mentally and physically.”
Rodriguez’s return will also see him form one half of an enticing new ‘double act’ alongside IBF welterweight champion and promotional partner Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. The duo, both signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, are widely regarded as two of the future superstars of American and indeed world boxing.
With the card taking place at the 21,000-capacity Wells Fargo Center in Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia, Rodriguez himself is excited for the opportunity to showcase his talents to a new audience, this time on America’s East Coast. Doing so alongside another fighter of Ennis’ caliber is another welcome bonus.
“This is a huge opportunity for me, not only to fight on a huge card, but to showcase my fighting style on the East Coast.
“I’ve never competed on the East Coast, not even as an amateur. It’s an opportunity to showcase my skills, my career and to share it with ‘Boots’ – one of the best in all of boxing – it’s an honour.”
The pairing of two of boxing’s top talents has been largely welcomed by boxing fans, with “Boots/Bam” joining “GGG/Chocolatito” and, more recently, “Benavidez/Tank” as a rare opportunity to see two stars fighters seemingly content to share the limelight.
However, there’s no getting away from the fact that both Ennis and Rodriguez enter their respective seasons as significant favourites. While Ennis has so far struggled to secure fights with the biggest names in the middleweight division, Rodriguez already boasts a string of top-flight victories in his relatively short career at the highest level.
With dominant wins over three of the consensus “Four Kings” of super-flyweight in Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and the aforementioned Estrada, there remains one name that has so far eluded Rodriguez: Nicaraguan great Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez.
Previously, a fight with Gonzalez was considered a non-starter due to the wishes of Teiken Promotions the powerful Akihiko Honda company that promotes both Rodriguez (along with Matchroom Boxing) and Chocolatito.
However, recent reports suggest that the fantasy match could be back on the table, possibly in 2025 in Saudi Arabia. While ‘Bam’ was quick to dismiss the stories as ‘fake news’, he refused to rule out a future fight with the legendary four-weight world champion.
“Yeah, I mean, it was fake news. Robert (Garcia) made it clear on Twitter. He said if the unification fights don’t come after him (Guevara)then it’s a match we’d be interested in if he (Gonzales) she is also with him.
“Well, if it happens, it happens. If not, there are other fighters I want to fight.”
Rodriguez’s emergence as an elite-level operator coincided with another rise to power in boxing.
Turki Alalshikh, the head of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, quickly established himself as a key figure in the sport with the introduction of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh season events. With rumors swirling about Rodriguez’s appearance in a season of Riyadh card in the near future, it’s an option that not only appeals to the San Antonio-native, but is already set in the terms of his contract.
“I signed a new contract with Matchroom and Saudi Arabia is actually in the contract,” Rodriguez confirmed. BN. “If I fight out there, they have my wallet ready. That’s another place I’d like to compete.”
With Saudi Arabia already hosting two undisputed title fights in Fury vs Usyk and Beterbiev vs Bivol in 2024 alone, Rodriguez hopes the riches on offer from Alalshikh and GEA will see him get his own chance to unite all four belts in the 115-pound division.
“I feel like if it was up to me, I’d fight (WBA and IBF champion Fernando Daniel) Martinez out there (in Saudi Arabia), I’m definitely going. It would be a great match.”
Whether the future involves a trip to Saudi Arabia, San Antonio or somewhere in between, Rodriguez, just 24 years old, has already established himself as one of the hottest talents of a generation.
The desert may well be the best place for him.
