Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez could be boxing’s next big star

Mike Coppinger, ESPNDecember 17, 2023, 1:10 a.m. ET

At just 23 years old Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has already amassed an impressive resume in boxing.

Additional victories over Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Titles in two weight classes. Number 1 is exactly right ESPN’s top 25 fighters break up at age 25. And on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, “Bam” delivered his best performance yet a ninth-round TKO victory above Sunny Edwards.

Edwards is a skilled boxer who is in his prime. He entered the fight ranked No. 2 by ESPN at 112 pounds behind Rodriguez. Nevertheless, Edwards proved to be no match.

Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) proved with every stiff jab, powerful combination and hard body punch that he is the next great fighter – and the most entertaining – to emerge from the lower weight classes and follow in the footsteps of Roman “Chocolatito.” “ occurs ” Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada.

“Up close, it was one of the best performances I’ve ever seen,” said event organizer Eddie Hearn. “This boy is very special. …You talk about great fighters who fight pound for pound. Sometimes the lower divisions don’t get the recognition they deserve.”

And for Rodriguez, encounters with both of these legends could be on the horizon.

Estrada, the 115-pound champion from Mexico, was ringside to watch Rodriguez’s performance. The future Hall of Famer hasn’t competed since last December, when he concluded his trilogy with “Chocolatito” Gonzalez with another narrow decision victory.

Both Rodriguez and Hearn hinted that Estrada could be next for Rodriguez. And it’s exactly the type of matchup Rodriguez needs to reach the next level.

Gonzalez and Estrada paved the way for Rodriguez with exciting action fights that increased the wages of fighters weighing 115 pounds and under. And Rodriguez picks up where they left off with his own string of rousing performances that guarantee entertainment.

As Rodriguez continues to develop, he could prove to be just as good as this part of the all-time greats. And maybe he’ll move up in weight enough to one day face unified junior featherweight world champion Naoya Inoue.

“The Monster” now weighs 122 pounds after winning his first title at 108 pounds. More realistic for Rodriguez in the near future is a fight with another elite fighter from Japan, Junto Nakatani.

Nakatani delivered a brutal KO from Andrew Moloney in May to win a 115-pound title and moves up to 118 in February for a title shot against Alexandro Santiago.

Whoever Rodriguez goes up against, he has proven to be a special talent and is must-see television in a sport that values entertainment value above all else.