Is Bam Rodriguez's resume criticism quite valid to say it's inferior to Nakatani's?

[Malvado]

Been reading a lot of comments in the media by fans that apparently, he is avoiding Junto Nakatani's for years, and that he his wins over aged fighters are inferior to the opposition than Junto had faced, which although it is quite good with Nakatani having become a three division champion.

However I see some problems in these arguments:

1. Not only had Bam just turned 24 years old to be able to avoid a fighter for a long period of time, he wasn't a top rated fighter for such a long period of time, as Nakatani who although young himself at age 24 in 2022, he was already a rated fighter.

Nakatani was one division above at flyweight compared to Rodriguez who was competing at light flyweight until the opportunity came to fight Cuadras at 2022, Nakatani became a super flyweight for three fights in 2022-2023.

Where as Bam moved up from light flyweight (108) to super flyweight (115) for 8 months in 2022 against Cuadras, Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez before climbing down a division at flyweight (112) against Christian Gonzalez and Sunny Edwards in 2023. How can he avoid an opponent where he competed in the same division for such a short window.

Basically I am saying, he was 22 years old in 2022 and a unknown quantity.

2. Although in the downslide, fighters like Cuadras, Rungvisai and Estrada weren't shot, they likely beat most top 5 rated fighters at super flyweight and champions based on styles. Having beaten the same caliber of fighters Nakatani had faced when he fought the same division like Cortes and Moloney.

Bam also had wins over well rated title challengers and a champion like Israel Gonzalez, Cristian Gonzalez and Sunny Edwards. With Guevara scheduled this November and the winner of Ioka vs Martinez II being a possibility early next year.



Thoughts on this?

[JOITATS]

That's definitely NOT how it went down.
Below is copied pasted from another site.

• Sept 2022 - Bam defends SFLW title
• November 2022 - Nakatani debuts at SFLW and says he wants to fight any of the champs and then unify
• April 2023 - Bam moves back down to FLW and wins a title
• May 2023 - Nakatani wins SFLW title and asks for unification fights
• Sept 2023 - Nobody wants to unify so Nakatani defends his title
• Dec 2023 - Bam gains a 2nd title at FLW
• Feb 2024 - Nobody wants to unify so Nakatani moves up to BW and wins a title
• Jun 2024 - Bam moves back up to SFLW and wins a title

There's just been too many opportunities for Bam to fight Junto, including a direct offer.
Timing, money, it's all there.

But for whatever reason, Bam doesn't want it.

[Mammoth]

Junto won't even be in the division he's in now for much longer. I think we won't see their paths cross for a while unfortunately.

[famicommander]

Nakatani has a bunch of good wins but technically he's just a world titlist. He has never fought for or won a lineal, TBRB, or Ring world championship. He has never unified.

Bam is the reigning TBRB/Ring/Lineal world champion at super flyweight and he unified at flyweight.

Nakatani is also two years older and has 9 more pro fights.

[Idunnoshet]

Been reading a lot of comments in the media by fans that apparently, he is avoiding Junto Nakatani's for years, and that he his wins over aged fighters are inferior to the opposition than Junto had faced, which although it is quite good with Nakatani having become a three division champion.

However I see some problems in these arguments:

1. Not only had Bam just turned 24 years old to be able to avoid a fighter for a long period of time, he wasn't a top rated fighter for such a long period of time, as Nakatani who although young himself at age 24 in 2022, he was already a rated fighter.

Nakatani was one division above at flyweight compared to Rodriguez who was competing at light flyweight until the opportunity came to fight Cuadras at 2022, Nakatani became a super flyweight for three fights in 2022-2023.

Where as Bam moved up from light flyweight (108) to super flyweight (115) for 8 months in 2022 against Cuadras, Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez before climbing down a division at flyweight (112) against Christian Gonzalez and Sunny Edwards in 2023. How can he avoid an opponent where he competed in the same division for such a short window.

Basically I am saying, he was 22 years old in 2022 and a unknown quantity.

2. Although in the downslide, fighters like Cuadras, Rungvisai and Estrada weren't shot, they likely beat most top 5 rated fighters at super flyweight and champions based on styles. Having beaten the same caliber of fighters Nakatani had faced when he fought the same division like Cortes and Moloney.

Bam also had wins over well rated title challengers and a champion like Israel Gonzalez, Cristian Gonzalez and Sunny Edwards. With Guevara scheduled this November and the winner of Ioka vs Martinez II being a possibility early next year.



Thoughts on this?

Neither Robert Garcia nor Mr. Honda wanted Bam to fight Junto.

But it's ok.
Junto's stablemate and WBO Flyweight Champion Anthony " Princessa " Olascuaga will get his shot at Bam next.

Gonna be " Princessa's " coming out party.

Team Nakatani / Princessa !!!

[Elheath]

Neither Robert Garcia nor Mr. Honda wanted Bam to fight Junto.

But it's ok.
Junto's stablemate and WBO Flyweight Champion Anthony " Princessa " Olascuaga will get his shot at Bam next.

Gonna be " Princessa's " coming out party.

Team Nakatani / Princessa !!!

I actually see an unification attempt between some kind of combination between Teraji/Olascuaga/Akui at FW coming up soon. Doubt any of those three will move up within the next year, regardless of Bam.

As for Bam and Nakatani, I like them both along with Inoue, and think they will all be successful in their own ways.

[Idunnoshet]

I actually see an unification attempt between some kind of combination between Teraji/Olascuaga/Akui at FW coming up soon. Doubt any of those three will move up within the next year, regardless of Bam.

As for Bam and Nakatani, I like them both along with Inoue, and think they will all be successful in their own ways.

That's exactly what I thought when they fought on the same weekend.
Olascuaga would KO Akui to set up the rematch with Kenshiro.

But sounds like Olascuaga will be fighting Bam from what I heard.

I'll give you another little nugget...
it won't be in the U.S or Japan .

[Elheath]

That's exactly what I thought when they fought on the same weekend.
Olascuaga would KO Akui to set up the rematch with Kenshiro.

But sounds like Olascuaga will be fighting Bam from what I heard.

I'll give you another little nugget...
it won't be in the U.S or Japan .

But what merit is there for Bam or Olascuaga to fight, especially in non-US or Japan? Likely less money and Bam isn't really going to get much credit for fighting Olascuaga right now and Olascuaga would just get unnecessary beating. Doubt Turki wants to see Olascuaga fight that much on his cards, and there certainly are better opponents than Olascuaga for Bam that money could buy.

The potential rumors I am hearing on the Teiken side (who promotes Olascuaga in Japan) is that the potential choices are an unification, round 2 with Gonzalez, or a curveball of a fight with Masamichi Yabuki who just regained the 108 belt but was noting weightloss being hard and wanting to move up to attempt 2 division champion. One funny thing is that although he's American, given that Olascuaga has fought in Japan now 4 times in a row it almost is like a second "hometown" boxing wise. He stays with Nakatani when he's in Japan, as they are long time buddies.

And speaking of Nakatani, interesting note...in the updated rankings of WBC, it has Estrada at number 1 and Takuma at number 2.

[Light_Speed]

There's just been too many opportunities for Bam to fight Junto, including a direct offer.
Timing, money, it's all there.

But for whatever reason, Bam doesn't want it.

Source?

[Idunnoshet]

But what merit is there for Bam or Olascuaga to fight, especially in non-US or Japan? Likely less money and Bam isn't really going to get much credit for fighting Olascuaga right now and Olascuaga would just get unnecessary beating. Doubt Turki wants to see Olascuaga fight that much on his cards, and there certainly are better opponents than Olascuaga for Bam that money could buy.

The potential rumors I am hearing on the Teiken side (who promotes Olascuaga in Japan) is that the potential choices are an unification, round 2 with Gonzalez, or a curveball of a fight with Masamichi Yabuki who just regained the 108 belt but was noting weightloss being hard and wanting to move up to attempt 2 division champion. One funny thing is that although he's American, given that Olascuaga has fought in Japan now 4 times in a row it almost is like a second "hometown" boxing wise. He stays with Nakatani when he's in Japan, as they are long time buddies.

And speaking of Nakatani, interesting note...in the updated rankings of WBC, it has Estrada at number 1 and Takuma at number 2.

You heard rumors from Teiken ?

Nice.

I won't reveal my souce.
I already said too much.

Just remember what I posted when it happens.

Plus.
You're way off saying Olascuaga woud receive a beating from Bam.

But I guess we'll see.