Emerging Superstar Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Captivates Boxing Enthusiasts
Renowned promoter Eddie Hearn has high praise for WBC junior-bantamweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, considering him one of the best fighters in the world. While a highly anticipated clash with undisputed junior-featherweight king Naoya Inoue remains a tantalizing prospect, Hearn believes the dream bout could become a reality if Inoue elects to stay at 122lbs.
Rodriguez, just 24 years old, delivered a “star-making performance” on Saturday, stopping former titlist Juan Francisco Estrada – one of the finest boxers of the previous era – in seven scintillating rounds. With this victory, Rodriguez has now defeated three of the top four junior bantamweights of their time: Estrada, Carlos Cuadras, and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. The only elite contender he hasn’t faced is his sparring partner and mentor, the legendary Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez, and it’s unlikely they will ever be matched.
Hearn discussed the possibility of a future showdown between the undefeated Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) and Japan’s Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs), stating:
“Jesse versus [Naoya] Inoue is a fantasy fight, but it is also an incredible fight. They will probably end up missing each other, but who knows? If Inoue does stay at 122 [lbs] for the next couple of years, Jesse will meet him there.”
The promoter praised Rodriguez’s performances, describing him as a top-five pound-for-pound fighter after his dominant win over Estrada. Hearn acknowledged that the lower weight classes often struggle to receive the same level of recognition as their heavyweight counterparts, but emphasized that Rodriguez deserves to be mentioned alongside elite talents like Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and Inoue.
The fight, witnessed by a crowd of 10,000 in Phoenix, Arizona, cemented Rodriguez’s status as a rising superstar in the sport. Estrada has a rematch clause, which he appears keen on exercising, but Hearn believes Rodriguez’s victory represents a significant milestone that brings a potential showdown with Inoue one step closer to reality.
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