March 29, 2024

Dragon Esdelsur

Home Sweet Home

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez retains title with dominant win in front of home fans

The minute the referee stepped in to prevent the struggle, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez turned and fell to his knees. As he dropped deal with ahead on to the canvas and rolled to the centre of the ring, the emotion was obvious on his facial area.

During the buildup to Saturday’s WBC Earth Tremendous Flyweight title bout, Rodriguez heard doubters stating he must fall back down in body weight, to the division he fought in prior to accepting a small-recognize bout two classes larger and getting the youngest planet champion in boxing.

In its place, he embraced the challenge of holding his initial defense from previous two-time winner Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, the most knowledgeable opponent Rodriguez has been in the ring with, mainly because he desired to show has was a “special” boxer.

Rodriguez remaining no area for doubt, scoring an emphatic eighth-round knockout in entrance of his hometown San Antonio admirers in the major party a Matchroom Boxing present at Tech Port Middle + Arena, even more asserting the 22-calendar year-previous as a person of the mounting names in the sport.

“I’m a terrific fighter,” Rodriguez explained. “It’s one thing I normally knew, but to at last confirm it to the individuals, the media, every person that doubted me, it just feels awesome.”

Rodriguez (16–, 11 KOs) managed the combat from start out to end, employing his jab to make separation in the early rounds as he explained he aimed to go his ft and get edge of Rungvisai remaining “a small flat-footed.”

Anytime Rodriguez and Rungvisai (50-6-1, 43 KOs) exchanged blows at shut quarters, Rodriguez stated he could hear coach Robert Garcia in his corner reminding him to make length.

Rodriguez was wary of Rungvisai’s energy, and following the fight Rodriguez referred to as Rungvisai “definitely the toughest hitter I have been in the ring with.” But immediately after two rounds Saturday, Rodriguez explained he could come to feel that strength starting up to break down.

“Robert prior to the struggle said, ‘Every punch you throw is heading to land,’ and which is what occurred,” Rodriguez explained. “I’m not surprised. We executed the match program excellent, and we came out with a acquire.”

Rodriguez scored his first knockdown in the seventh spherical, stepping ahead with his proper foot and throwing a still left hook that staggered Rungvisai, forcing him to touch his glove to the canvas for stability.

Rodriguez ongoing the onslaught to rating the knockout in the eighth round, trapping Rungvisai against the ropes and unleashing a flurry of major punches with each hands ahead of the referee stepped in.

“I felt like it was time. He was on his way out by now, so that is when I picked it up,” Rodriguez reported. “I knew he was hurt. And I was hoping (the official) would end it, since he was hitting challenging. So I was like, ‘Damn, I have to have to get this male out of here presently.’”

Rodriguez identified as the finish a “big statement” that “means almost everything to my job.”

He dominated in every part, landing 233 total punches to Rungvisai’s 82, per CompuBox. Rodriguez related on 114 jabs as opposed to 12 for Rungvisai and landed 54 per cent of his punches in contrast to Rungvisai’s 19 p.c.

Speaking on the DAZN broadcast in the ring following the battle, Matchroom Activity chairman Eddie Hearn described Rodriguez as a generational talent.

“San Antonio,” Hearn mentioned to the crowd, “you’ve received a superstar on your hands.”

The enthusiasts reacted accordingly by means of the night, providing Rodriguez a standing ovation throughout an entrance that he explained as “like a dream.” He said the admirer guidance was compared with any he’d felt in advance of, fighting in San Antonio for the initially time because 2018.

Searching forward, Rodriguez reported he intends to transfer down in fat instead than seek out yet another defense of the title he gained from Carlos Cuadras in February.

“The approach correct now is to go to 112 and pick up a title there,” Rodriguez stated. “I’ll communicate to my staff, and we’ll see where by we go from below.”

In the opening fight on the televised portion of the card, San Antonio’s Ricky Medina Jr. endured the very first loss of his specialist career in a 100-90, 100-90, 99-91 unanimous selection for Raymond Ford, who claimed the WBA Continental Americas Featherweight and IBF North American Featherweight championships.