AFTER an enormous breakout 12 months in 2022, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez will kick off his 2023 marketing campaign as a fully-fledged star on Saturday in his hometown of San Antonio. It’s not solely a return residence for the 23-year-old but in addition a return to his previous 112lb division after setting the world alight up at super-flyweight final 12 months.
When 2021 got here to an finish, Rodriguez was being touted as a scorching prospect however not many individuals would have predicted the influence he would have on the 115lb division over the course of the 9 months that adopted.
He jumped up in weight as a late stand-in to outpoint the revered Carlos Cuadras in February of final 12 months after which stopped Srisaket Sor Rungvisai inside eight rounds simply 4 months later. His reward was a spot on the Canelo-GGG III card in Las Vegas on Mexican independence weekend and he marked the event with a unanimous choice victory over Israel Gonzalez.
These exploits moved him to 3rd on the planet within the division however he has headed again right down to flyweight to tackle 15-1 (5) Cristian Gonzalez for the vacant WBO title on the Boeing Heart at Tech Port, San Antonio. Neither man is at the moment within the prime 10 on the weight.
“That is actually necessary for me as a result of earlier than I received the belt at 115lbs, it was a purpose of mine and my crew to win belts at a number of weight-classes,” he Rodriguez stated. “So to go to 112 is step one in that path that we’ve been speaking about for years.
“It’s a three-pound distinction and I’ve been quite a bit stricter with my weight loss program on this camp. I haven’t been snacking or messing round with it. I do know Christian is taller and has longer attain than me, however I really feel that I’m going to be robust at 112, you’re going to see a unique Bam.
“It has at all times been the purpose, and the chance has come on the excellent time. I wish to be remembered as one of many greats, like a Pacquaio or Chocolatito, they received belts throughout so many weights and that’s my purpose, so we’re taking step one on April 8.”
Though he’s the larger man, Gonzalez has by no means boxed outdoors of his native Mexico and has boxed simply as soon as in over 18 months, and that was a one-round blowout of Juan Alejo Zuniga in March of final 12 months. He would wrestle to hold with Bam at the most effective of instances however with this little momentum he’ll do effectively to make it to the midway level.
Within the chief assist dwell on DAZN, super-bantamweight world No. 2 Murodjon ‘MJ’ Akhmadaliev packing containers for the primary time since June when he takes on Marlon Tapales – ranked sixth – in what seems like a firefight ready to occur between these two southpaws.
Tapales, 36-3 (19), has not gone the space for almost 9 years and over the course of that interval he’s boxed 11 instances, profitable by stoppage 10 instances and getting stopped within the different. He additionally tends to start out quick, with seven of these 10 wins coming inside the primary three rounds.
MJ, in the meantime, is 11-0 (8) and is determined to show himself because the No.1 within the division now the conflict between Stephen Fulton and Naoya Inoue has been delayed. Successful right here received’t fairly do this however he can nonetheless make an announcement. Count on him to shut the present between 9-12.
In what may very well be the battle of the evening, Raymond Ford places his undefeated report on the road in his first 12-rounder towards once-beaten Jesse Magdeleno at featherweight.
New Jersey native Ford, who’s coming off the again of his eighth-round victory over Sakaria Lukas in November, takes on 31-year-old Magdaleno, 29-1(18), who’s on a four-fight profitable streak since he misplaced to Isaac Dogboe of their gorgeous 2018 battle.
Ford remains to be solely 24 however has been on the coronary heart of the Matchroom USA experiment and, with three wins in 2022, this may very well be an enormous 12 months for him however Magdaleno represents the hardest take a look at of his profession thus far. Victory right here will present he’s prepared for among the larger names within the division. If he can maintain it tight he has the instruments to outbox Magdaleno and win on factors.
Within the first televised battle on the cardboard, Thomas Mattice and Ramiro Cesena conflict over 10 rounds at super-featherweight. Cleveland man Mattice is coming in off the again of the most effective win of his profession towards the beforehand undefeated Christian Tapia, who was dropped within the second spherical en path to a snug UD for Mattice in November.
Cesena, in the meantime, drew the second battle of his 16-fight profession however has received the opposite 15 with 13 of these ending inside the space. He can punch at his stage however will probably be fascinating to see how he offers with this step up at school.
There are 4 fights on the non-televised portion of this card with numerous Matchroom’s rising stars in motion. Tremendous-welterweight world No.5, Israel Madrimov, has not boxed since his July conflict with Michel Soro on the O2 Area in London led to a technical draw after three rounds resulting from a conflict of heads early on. He faces Texan Raphael Igbokwe over 10 rounds as he bids to power his approach additional up the rankings.
Fresno’s Marc Castro, at the moment 9-0 (6), will look to keep up his regular progress by seeing off Ricardo Lopez of their eight-round contest after ‘Huge Steppa’ Khalil Coe takes on Aaron Casper in a light-heavyweight six-rounder.
Within the first battle of the evening, 18-year-old Jesus Martinez, from Del Rio, Texas, has his fourth battle since his June debut, and his third consecutive outing in San Antonio, when he faces Jose Lopez over 4 rounds at super-bantamweight.
THE VERDICT: Some high quality matchmaking from Matchroom right here.
