Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez went to Glendale, Arizona, in pursuit of greatness. He left as a three-weight world champion.
At the Desert Diamond Arena on Saturday night, Rodriguez ran through Antonio Vargas in six rounds to claim the WBA bantamweight title and move to 24-0, 17 KOs. Vargas dropped to 19-2-1, 11 KOs.
It was Rodriguez’s first fight at bantamweight after ruling at flyweight and super flyweight.
Vargas started well and gave Rodriguez plenty to think about early, landing clean shots and managing to negate Rodriguez’s famed angles.
But Rodriguez stayed calm, before the levels showed.
By the fourth, while the DAZN commentary team were waxing lyrical about Vargas, Rodriguez tightened the screws, found his rhythm and took control. His timing sharpened and the angles were starting to help find his mark more often.
The good work continued in the 5th, knocking Vargas down early with a clean left hand. Vargas, to his credit, got up, withstood the storm and battled his way to the end of the round.
However, Rodriguez kept his foot on the gas and finished the fight in the sixth teeing Vargas up for the left hand again. This time Vargas couldn’t continue; the referee waving the fight off at the count of 7, Vargas flat on his back with 1 minute 43 seconds left in the round.
The big question was whether Rodriguez’s power would carry up in weight. It did.
At 26, Rodriguez now holds world titles at flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight. His CV is growing fast and the conversation has already shifted to one name.
Naoya Inoue, the 122 lb super bantamweight superstar.
Rodriguez did not hesitate post-fight.
‘I’m ready for whoever, whenever’ he said.
Rodriguez’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, backed him in typical style, insisting he is built for one of the biggest challenges in the sport.
‘What your witnessing with Bam is the pound for pound number one fighter in the sport.
‘The inevitable fight will get made, it’s just a case of when.
‘He ain’t getting beat. There’s no one on this planet who’s beating Bam Rodriguez at 118 or 122 lbs. Not even Naoya Inoue.’
A unification fight at 118lbs may come first, with the WBC champion, brother of Naoya Inoue, Takuma Inoue and WBO belt holder Christian Medina in the frame, but the direction of travel is clear.
New division. Same Bam. And one step closer to a super-fight.
