Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is taking an attention-grabbing path.
The gifted 23-year-old from San Antonio had an enormous 2022, throughout which he knocked off Carlos Cuadras to win the WBC junior bantamweight title and efficiently defended in opposition to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez to grow to be a serious drive at 115 kilos.
So what does he do in his first battle this 12 months? Transfer down in weight to battle Cristian Gonzalez of Mexico for the vacant WBO flyweight world title Saturday in his hometown (DAZN).
That might be dangerous information for Gonzalez and the opposite elite 112-pounders, assuming Rodriguez doesn’t have hassle making that weight and stays there.
He stopped his earlier six opponents earlier than transferring up from 112 and 115 for the Cuadras battle, which appears to point that he’s significantly sturdy on the decrease weight. At 115, he was in a position to cease Sor Rungvisai however Cuadras and Gonzalez took him the space.
On high of that, Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) needs to be contemporary on Saturday.
He couldn’t have been happier together with his break-through 12 months final 12 months however he admitted to BoxingScene.com that it was a grueling stretch. He may have had six-plus months to get better when he steps into the ring to face Gonzalez (15-1, 5 KOs).
“I’ve positively had sufficient relaxation,” he mentioned.
And, lastly, Rodriguez may have the benefit of combating Gonzalez in entrance of a pleasant crowd on the Boeing Heart at Tech Port enviornment.
He final fought in San Antonio in June of final 12 months, when he shocked many observers by knocking out the rugged Sor Rungvisai within the eighth spherical. That victory was arguably essentially the most spectacular efficiency of his profession.
“Fights in San Antonio are simply totally different for me,” he mentioned. “The final one in opposition to Rungvisai in San Antonio was electrical and thrilling, so to get one other alternative to battle for an additional world title there in entrance of my followers is superb.
“San Antonio means every part to me, it’s the place I used to be born and raised, my household and my persons are there and each time I step within the ring, they’re with me. I characterize San Antonio once I step within the ring, and I’m doing this for my metropolis.”
