Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez again showed why he is one of the best fighters in the sport with a dominant 10th round KO of Fernando “Puma” Martinez to add the WBA junior bantamweight title to the WBO and WBC straps he already owned.
In what some thought would be a competitive contest, Rodriguez was in control from the get-go but the knockout – which eventually came from his southpaw left hand – for a while looked like it was going to elude him.
“I thought he was going to get up,” said Rodriguez. “He’d that been a tough opponent. After rounds six and seven, I knew it was over, but I didn’t think I was going to knock him out – so I was just having fun.
“I wasn’t looking for the knockout. I wasn’t forcing it and I think that’s what helped me out. It came natural. I was trying to land that punch the whole fight and it finally landed and he went down.
“I showed I’m pound-for-pound one of the best. It just goes to show. Right now, I have nothing but respect for [Puma] and his team. There was a little animosity during the build-up but that’s part of the sport. It made the fight more interesting. It all works out in the end.”
As for what comes next, there is only one man who the 23-0 (16 KOs) Texan wants: The IBF beltholder Willibaldo Garcia who is the final hurdle in Rodriguez’s quest to win all four major titles at 115lbs.
“There is one more fight [before I am undisputed]. Hopefully we can get that next.”
