Battle followers have been handled to a rattling good motion battle final night time in Phoenix, whereas we additionally noticed an excellent profitable efficiency from one of many sport’s hottest lower-weight ring warriors. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez delivered in fashion in his problem of WBC 115-pound champ Juan Francisco Estrada, the 24-year-old changing into the primary man to cease the teak-tough Mexican.
And, in what added additional pleasure to final night time’s battle, Rodriguez needed to stand up from a (flash) knockdown to win. In his return to the 115-pound division, after unifying down at 112 kilos, “Bam” placed on a efficiency that “unquestionably” makes him a pound-for-pound star. That is what promoter Eddie Hearn mentioned after final night time’s Seventh-round physique shot stoppage win for “Bam,” and loads of us agree with him.
Rodriguez, 20-0(13) appears to have the ability to do all of it: He can field, he can bang, he can take a great shot, he can harm to the top and to the physique, Rodriguez can go all night time. Certainly, Rodriguez is a particular fighter. So, what subsequent?
Rodriguez, who should be a few years from his absolute peak, has loads of choices. A return battle with Estrada, 44-4(28), is feasible, as Estrada had a rematch clause in his contract going into final night time’s battle, with the 34-year-old suggesting he intends to implement it. Final night time’s battle was adequate to warrant a part-two, even when “Bam” has different, extra attention-grabbing choices.
The massive Dream Battle Rodriguez has spoken of is him taking over Japanese famous person and, for some, pound-for-pound No1 Naoya Inoue. This “Monster” of a battle may occur subsequent yr. Rodriguez must bounce up two weight divisions to get it on with Inoue, the present unified champ at 122 kilos; that or a catch-weight showdown may happen. If “Bam” can placed on the load, stay efficient, and never be compromised in velocity and energy, who is aware of, we may have an absolute basic battle of the long run with Inoue Vs. Rodriguez.
Within the meantime, Rodriguez may look to face the winner of the upcoming battle between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez, who battle in a two-belt unification conflict subsequent month. Perhaps Rodriguez will look to unify the 115-pound division.
For now, the consultants should resolve the place Rodriguez must be positioned within the P-4-P charts.
“If you point out [Terence] Crawford, while you point out [Oleksandr] Usyk, while you point out [Naoya] Inoue within the pound-for-pound checklist, you higher say these three particular letters – ‘Bam,’ proper?” Hearn mentioned.
Proper.
