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Melina Pizano/ MatchroomFRISCO, Texas – Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is returning to his home state in search of his fifth major title win in just eight fights.
Rodriguez, an unbeaten two-division champ, will take on Phumelele Cafu, 11-0-3 (8 KOs), in a scheduled 12-round junior bantamweight unification bout. Their matchup tops a DAZN show Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. ET/midnight BST from The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.
San Antonio’s Rodriguez, 21-0 (14 KOs), will risk his lineal and WBC 115lbs championship for the second time during his second and current reign.
South Africa’s Cafu will attempt the first defense of his WBO title he claimed in a 12-round, split decision victory over Kosei Tanaka last October 14 in Tokyo. He now hits the road once again in search of a second straight upset.
Should the odds hold up, Rodriguez – a -3000 favorite – is lined up to next face WBA 115lbs titlist Fernando “Pumita” Martinez, 18-0 (9 KOs), on November 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Below are the results of the three-bout “Before the Bell” preliminary undercard.
Robert Garcia-trained Hector Beltran stops Edgar Gutierrez in third round
The locally based Beltran was originally due to make his U.S. debut without the services of Robert Garcia in his corner. The full team was on hand, however, when the 2024 Trainer of the Year made the late trip from Las Vegas after Angel Fierro was hospitalized and unable to go through with his rematch against Isaac Cruz.
Beltran, 3-0 (3 KOs), made sure not to squander the moment as he tore through Arizona’s Gutierrez, 3-4 (2 KO). Prior to Saturday, Beltran’s previous two bouts took place in Mexico, each ending in the second round.
It was nearly a three-peat as Gutierrez was badly rocked late in the second but made it to the bell. Beltran continued to apply pressure until the stoppage was forced at 2 minutes, 35 seconds of the third.
The victory was well received by the local fans who made a point to arrive early in support of the 20-year-old Dallas native Beltran.
Nishant Dev turns away scrappy LaQuan Evans with sixth-round stoppage
The rise continued for India’s Nishant Dev, who avoided a second consecutive distance fight with a sixth-round stoppage of Philadelphia’s LaQuan Evans, 5-6-2 (2 KOs).
There were no knockdowns in the entertaining fight, but Dev, 3-0 (2 KOs), had Evans in trouble late before referee Laurence Cole intervened at 1 minute, 58 seconds of the sixth round.
Dev – who represented India in the 2024 Paris Olympics – was tested early, as Evans forced his way inside in the second and third rounds. A 24-year-old southpaw, Dev adjusted and controlled the balance of the fight.
It appeared the fight was on the verge of going to the scorecards, just five weeks after Dev went all six rounds in a unanimous decision on the June 14 DAZN show in New York City. That fate changed in an instant when Dev found an opening and kept throwing punches until he was able to force the stoppage.
The ‘King of New York’ conquers Dallas(-ish)
New York City’s “Pretty Boy” Pablo Valdez opened the show with a third-round knockout over Houston’s Robert Redmond Jnr, 8-3-2 (6 KOs).
Valdez scored two knockdowns, the latter of which produced an immediate stoppage at 1 minute into Round 3.
Action was one way in their junior middleweight contest, as the 42-year-old Valdez, 10-0 (9 KOs) – the self-proclaimed “King of New York” – constantly came forward and frequently found a home for his right-hand power shots.
However, it was a left hook – which followed a right hand – that set up the first knockdown, and ultimately marked the beginning of the end. Redmond beat the count but found himself trapped against the ropes as Valdez landed a swarm of punches to send him back to the canvas. Referee Mark Calo-oy had seen enough and waved off the contest without issuing a count.
