Jul 03 2024 News

BAM RODRIGUEZ DECLARES TOP FIVE POUND-FOR-POUND STATUS AFTER KNOCKOUT WIN

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez firmly believes he belongs in the top five of the pound-for-pound list after his impressive knockout win over Mexican legend Juan Francisco Estrada on Saturday night. The victory in Phoenix saw Rodriguez reclaim the WBC World Super-Flyweight title and earn his first Ring Magazine belt. Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) started the fight aggressively, staggering Estrada with a crisp uppercut in the third round and flooring him with a powerful left hand in the fourth. However, Estrada managed to knock Rodriguez down for the first time in his career with a right hand. Rodriguez quickly composed himself, finishing the round strong. The seventh round saw Rodriguez deliver a devastating left-hand body shot that crumpled Estrada, sealing the win. After the fight, Rodriguez and promoter Eddie Hearn discussed his performance and future plans. “I’m the legend slayer,” said Rodriguez. “The better the opponent, the better I perform. I’ve always felt that way. It was just a matter of time until the world saw it.”   Rodriguez expressed interest in a rematch with Estrada or a potential fight with the winner of the bout between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez. He is also open to fighting in Japan, where he has visited and appreciates the unique boxing atmosphere. “The scorecards were pretty crazy to me. I thought I was dominating the fight, even in the round I got dropped in. It was a flash knockdown, and I knew when I was going down that I was smiling. It’s just a learning experience.” Rodriguez also credited Chocolatito for their sparring sessions, which he felt were perfect for his camp. He praised Estrada as a legend and acknowledged the importance of his win. “It’s my best win so far. He’s a legend, and to dominate him the way I did says a lot about my performance and talents.” Hearn echoed Rodriguez’s sentiments, highlighting the significance of his victory and his potential in the sport. “Jesse should be mentioned with Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue, and Oleksandr Usyk. He’s 24 years old and has another four or five years of his prime. The future is bright for him.” #BamRodriguez #JuanFranciscoEstrada #EddieHearn #KazutoIoka #FernandoMartinez #Chocolatito #BoxingNews #PoundForPound #WBC #RingMagazine