Bam Rodriguez is overrated IMO.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I think fighting washed versions of SSR and Cuadras really flattered him.

I’m not convinced he beats Sunny Edwards tbh, I think that’ll be a tough fight for him.

[Malvado]

Hey agree to disagree, to me the fact that Jesse won 9-3 with a broken jaw speaks volumes of his ability.

Might not have been a H0F, but Chicarito Gonzalez was 15-1 and a top 10 contender.

As for Edwards I am not sure. He doesn't really possess much power.

True he defeated hard hitting Nicaraguan Felix Alvarado, but Felix lost whenever he stepped up and was a brawler that didn't rely much on technical skill compared to Bam.

Sunny also has a questionable chin, he got rocked by Marcel Braithwaite in a competitive bout who currently holds a record of 14-3-1 with no knockouts:

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Hey agree to disagree, to me the fact that Jesse won 9-3 with a broken jaw speaks volumes of his ability.

Might not have been a H0F, but Chicarito Gonzalez was 15-1 and a top 10 contender.

As for Edwards I am not sure. He doesn't really possess much power.

True he defeated hard hitting Nicaraguan Felix Alvarado, but Felix lost whenever he stepped up and was a brawler that didn't rely much on technical skill compared to Bam.

Sunny also has a questionable chin, he got clipped by Marcel Braithwaite in a competitive bout who currently holds a record of 14-3-1 with no knockouts:

I think Bam has been very underwhelming in his last two fights. I don’t think there’s anything impressive about getting your jaw busted up against Christian Gonzalez, especially when you’re being hyped up as a P4P talent. You should be dealing with guys like that comfortably.

I think the big question is can Bam walk him down and cut the ring off? Edwards doesn’t have the most entertaining of styles but it’s awkward and effective. I think that’ll be a close decision either way type fight.

[Cypocryphy]

I think fighting washed versions of SSR and Cuadras really flattered him.

I’m not convinced he beats Sunny Edwards tbh, I think that’ll be a tough fight for him.

Bam has regressed as a boxer. He used to have better footwork, able to take angles and avoid return fire. Apparently he now thinks it's better if he fights as a punching bag. You could be right about Sunny beating him. I don't like this version of Rodriguez.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Bam has regressed as a boxer. He used to have better footwork, able to take angles and avoid return fire. Apparently he now thinks it's better if he fights as a punching bag. You could be right about Sunny beating him. I don't like this version of Rodriguez.

Or did it just look better because of who he was fighting?

Yeah I think it’ll be a real close fight, I just think Sunny is a horrible guy to fight man, he’s constantly moving, very difficult to pin down, I could see that one going either way.

[Cypocryphy]

Or did it just look better because of who he was fighting?

Yeah I think it’ll be a real close fight, I just think Sunny is a horrible guy to fight man, he’s constantly moving, very difficult to pin down, I could see that one going either way.

Yeah. Absolutely a difficult fight. I don't think Sunny has the same pop that Gonzalez has, but Sunny is a better technician. As to who he was fighting being lower quality, I don't think so. Those boxes were very good, albeit older. And last night , there were plenty of opportunities for him to take a weak side angle, and had he done so, I believe he could have landed a straight right to get a knockdown or even stop Gonzales. He used to get offline all the time before, and I wonder if it's a mental thing. People compared him to Loma, so maybe he doesn't want that anymore? I don't know. But he's definitely changed his way of fighting. MAYBE he struggled to do so because Gonzales was moving around the ring so much? But there were opportunities, and I didn't see him even try. I noticed this change in his last fight.

I suppose we'll see, but it looks as if he won't be fighting again till the fall.

[Malvado]

I think Bam has been very underwhelming in his last two fights. I don’t think there’s anything impressive about getting your jaw busted up against Christian Gonzalez, especially when you’re being hyped up as a P4P talent. You should be dealing with guys like that comfortably.

I think the big question is can Bam walk him down and cut the ring off? Edwards doesn’t have the most entertaining of styles but it’s awkward and effective. I think that’ll be a close decision either way type fight.

Think that despite Gonzalez getting dominated, he just timed him well at round six due that stylistically he is a rangy (5'7) counterpuncher that fights at the backfoot. Timing is his specialty and he hit the jackpot, yet despite that he couldn't capitalize on it because Jesse was just the better fighter.

I still rate Gonzalez below Cuadras and Rungvisai in the decline who are overall much harder hitters and fundamentally more sound, just that styles make fights. Bam was unprepared on facing Gonzalez with no gameplan as explained during the press conference prior to the fight.

I do think that Jesse was cutting the ring well at the start of the fight against Christian, however once he got the injury at the sixth round, he rushed his work and went head hunting to finish the fight since he was at risk of getting stopped by the doctor.





I doubt be he be in the same circumstances with the much shorter and pillow fisted Edwards. He might be more skilled than Christian but with his overall deficiencies such as prowess, durability and reach will put him at a big disadvantage against anyone that comes near his technical skill.

By the way, by reach I don't mean his height (5'3), actually I mean arm reach: Sunny's 60.0" in (152cm) compared to Bam's 67.0" in (170cm).

[kiaba360]

You feel Rodriguez is overrated because fans can be a hasty bunch, eager to crown someone the "Next Big Thing" or to be the loudest contrarian.

Rationally speaking, Bam is a young fighter who maximized his opportunity by beating two past-prime former champions. He generated excitement because he defeated some of the old guard, immediately throwing his name into the spotlight and fast-tracking his developmental process. The Gonzalez fight was a reminder that he still has lessons to learn. He was forced to be a pressure fighter against a taller/longer opponent with the engine to move all night. He wasn't respecting Gonzalez's power and got injured. What Bam did show was a good engine to chase Gonzalez all night, and the fortitude to fight through injury. Stylistically, I think Gonzalez was good preparation for Sunny. Bam may have underestimated Gonzalez, but he won't underestimate Sunny.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Yeah. Absolutely a difficult fight. I don't think Sunny has the same pop that Gonzalez has, but Sunny is a better technician. As to who he was fighting being lower quality, I don't think so. Those boxes were very good, albeit older. And last night , there were plenty of opportunities for him to take a weak side angle, and had he done so, I believe he could have landed a straight right to get a knockdown or even stop Gonzales. He used to get offline all the time before, and I wonder if it's a mental thing. People compared him to Loma, so maybe he doesn't want that anymore? I don't know. But he's definitely changed his way of fighting. MAYBE he struggled to do so because Gonzales was moving around the ring so much? But there were opportunities, and I didn't see him even try. I noticed this change in his last fight.

I suppose we'll see, but it looks as if he won't be fighting again till the fall.

I think Cuadras has been cooked for a while, since he lost to Arroyo and the version of Sor Rungvisai he fought looked a complete shell of the fighter who fought Chocolatito and Estrada.

Yeah that’s why I brought up Edwards, Bam definitely struggled with the movement of Gonzalez at times and that doesn’t bode well for a potential fight with Sunny who is constantly moving for 12 rounds.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Think that despite Gonzalez getting dominated, he just timed him well at round six due that stylistically he is a rangy (5'7) counterpuncher that fights at the backfoot. Timing is his specialty and he hit the jackpot, yet despite that he couldn't capitalize on it because Jesse was just the better fighter.

I still rate Gonzalez below Cuadras and Rungvisai in the decline who are overall much harder hitters and fundamentally more sound, just that styles make fights. Bam was unprepared on facing Gonzalez with no gameplan as explained during the press conference prior to the fight.

I do think that Jesse was cutting the ring well at the start of the fight against Christian, however once he got the injury at the sixth round, he rushed his work and went head hunting to finish the fight since he was at risk of getting stopped by the doctor.





I doubt be he be in the same circumstances with the much shorter and pillow fisted Edwards. He might be more skilled than Christian but with his overall deficiencies such as prowess, durability and reach will put him at a big disadvantage against anyone that comes near his technical skill.

By the way, by reach I don't mean his height (5'3), actually I mean arm reach: Sunny's 60.0" in (152cm) compared to Bam's 67.0" in (170cm).

He never dominated last night, he fully deserved the decision and probably won 8 or 9 rounds but he certainly didn’t dominate. Gonzalez landed some good shots, did damage and finished the stronger of the two.

As I’ve mentioned I don’t put much stock into the Cuadras and SSR wins tbh, they were both washed. The fact he stopped SSR was the only thing that surprised me about those fights.

Bam struggles to effectively cut off the ring which makes me think Edwards will give him problems. I still make Bam the favourite but I think that’ll be a testing fight for him.