PHOENIX – Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez couldn’t have more clearly illustrated his desire to take on anyone, any place at any time.
The supremely talented 22-year-old southpaw became the youngest active major titlist after outclassing Carlos Cuadras to win the vacant WBC junior bantamweight title. Their DAZN-headlining title fight from Phoenix, Arizona came together on less than a week’s notice, with Rodriguez agreeing to abandon his scheduled flyweight fight on the undercard to replace an ill Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1, 43KOs) versus a veteran former titlist at a higher weight.
The act was thought to be one and done, with Rodriguez expected to move down to junior flyweight where he always targeted his first career title fight. The feel of his first major title has changed that dynamic, with Rodriguez eager to take on anyone standing in his way in the hottest division in the sport—even if it means fighting older brother and current WBA “World” junior bantamweight titlist Joshua Franco.
“We’re both world champions at the same weight. Now we can unify. Me and my brother can unify,” Rodriguez deadpanned to BoxingScene.com and other reporters, before cracking a smile to at least hint that he was likely joking. “But it feels amazing, me and my brother are world champions at the same time.
“We’re representing San Antonio. It feels badass.”
Even without the sibling rivalry, Rodriguez won’t lack for elite competition should he remain at junior bantamweight. The division’s current lineal champion is Juan Francisco Estrada (42-3, 28KOs), who also holds the WBA “Super” title. The WBO strap is owned by Kazuto Ioka (27-2, 15KOs), Japan’s only-ever male four-division champion. Philippines’ Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22KOs) is the reigning IBF titlist, while former champions and future Hall of Fame entrants Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez (50-3, 41KOs) and Sor Rungivsai remain among the division’s top talents even without belts.
Gonzalez is currently due to next face WBC flyweight titlist Julio Cesar Martinez (18-1, 14KOs), who replaces Estrada and moves up in weight for the March 5 DAZN main event from Pechanga Arena in San Diego. Sor Rungvisai—a former lineal and two-time WBC 115-pound titlist—remains the WBC mandatory challenger to the title Rodriguez just claimed over the weekend.
“I’m down with any of those options,” insisted Rodriguez of next facing Sor Rungvisai or the Gonzalez-Martinez winner. “I like both of them. I don’t have a problem fighting whoever—Sor Rungvisai, [the winner of] Chocolatito-Rey Martinez. I’m ready for whoever.
“I’m gonna talk to my team and we’re going to decide who’s next. They know I’m ready for anyone.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox