As many may know, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has moved down in weight, as the former junior bantamweight world champion will now be competing at flyweight against Cristian Gonzalez, for the vacant WBO flyweight title, live on DAZN, from the Boeing Center at Tech Port, in San Antonio, Texas.
Rodriguez had a meteoric rise to fame in 2022 defeating two lower-weight legends in the sport in Carlos Cuadras, and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, having some throwing Bam's name in the hat for ‘Fighter of the Year' honors. That said, it appears some of the online trash talk from IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards has caught the ears of “Bam” Rodriguez’s team.
Recently, Edwards signed with Matchroom Boxing and obviously seems to be pursuing a fight with one of the top fighters in the world, “Bam” Rodriguez. It is clear Rodriguez is embracing being able to fight in his hometown of San Antonio for a world title.
“I’m happy to be back in the ring and do what I love to do. I have the opportunity on Saturday night to become San Antonio’s first two-weight World champion and that would make the night just that little more special,” said Rodriguez at the press conference today. “I would have been ready to fight at 115lbs as I entered camp on weight, I just came into camp more disciplined and a little more in shape coming into camp; I’ve had a ten-week camp away from my family, so I’ve sacrificed a lot and come Saturday night it’s going to show.”
This will mark Rodriguez’s second time-fighting at the flyweight class, as his previous fight at this weight limit came on February 2020 at The Ford Center at the Star, in Frisco, Texas. That fight ended in a stoppage, and Rodriguez appears to be gunning for the same result in this bout.
“I want to go out and show everyone I’m still ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. After my last performance, people wrote me off, so I am ready to do what I do and I’m a different person in that ring,” when Rodriguez asked what you can expect on Saturday night. “All the belts, all the champions at 112lbs - that’s what I want. Let’s make these fights, give the fans what they want, so step up to the plate and make it happen. “