San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
‘Bam’ to bring buzz to his hometown
Much of the buzz in boxing right now — at least in the lighter weight divisions — centers around
San Antonio flyweight sensation Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
It was just three months ago that the 22-year-old became the youngest current world champion in the sport by flooring former champ Carlos Cuadras of Mexico en route to a stunningly one-sided victory in Phoenix to win the WBC 115-pound belt.
The victory came in just his 15th bout and showcased a skill set and poise rarely seen in a fighter that young.
Now the talented southpaw will get the opportunity to defend his crown in front of a hometown crowd in a fight local fans won’t want to miss.
This kid is a legitimate star in the making.
Rodriguez (15-0, 10 KOs) is scheduled to take on Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1, 43 KOs) of Thailand on June 25 at the new Tech Port Arena on the Southwest Side.
The 12-round bout is one of four world title fights atop the card to be streamed live on DAZN.
“Fighting a guy like Rungvisai is going to bring me to a whole new level,” said Rodriguez, whose brother, Joshua Franco, owns a version of the WBA super flyweight title. “He’s a great fighter, but this is my time now. You have to take risks in this sport. That’s what special fighters do.”
Rodriguez took a risk
by agreeing to fight the 33-year-old Cuadras (395-1, 27 KOs) in February. He accepted the bout on short notice after Cuadras’ opponent came down with a non-COVID related illness and was forced to withdraw.
That opponent was Rungvisai, 35, a former two-time champion trying to regain the title he lost in a close decision to Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada in 2019.
“They said it was a risk for me challenging for a world title on short notice and now they say it’s a risk taking on a fighter like Rungvisai but this is what I want,” Rodriguez said. “These are the types of fights you need so you can be remembered by the fans long after your career is done.”
Rungvisai is a bonafide challenger.
He turned pro in 2009 — Rodriguez was 9 years
old at the time — and lost three of his first five fights before winning 26 in a row and the WBC super flyweight title in 2013.
Rungvisai lost his belt to Cuadras in 2014 but beat superstar Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez of Nicaragua back-to-back in 2017 and Estrada in 2018.
His second victory over Chocolatito came by knockout and established Rungvisai as one of boxing’s
pound-for-pound best.
“Jesse might be the youngest current world champion, but this is a fight where he can prove he already belongs with the very best in boxing,” said his trainer, Robert Garcia. “We have a lot of respect for Rungvisai, we know what he is capable of, and he is a great, great fighter, but I also know what Jesse is capable of. I have so much belief in him, and I know he is ready for this.”
Garcia believes Rodriguez will be a multi-division world champion by the time he is done with hopes of winning titles at 108 and 112 in the immediate future.
“I’ve always said me and my brother are going to bring the big fights back to San Antonio and this is just the start of it,” Rodriguez said. “We are so proud to be from this city and we get that love back from the people there so this will be a special night.”
Busy summer for boxing in S.A.
In addition to the Rodriguez world title fight in June, undefeated WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) of the Philippines is scheduled to defend his title against Rey Vargas (35-0, 22 KOs) of Mexico on July 9 at the Alamodome.
There are three local shows in May, including two on the 28th.
Davies Entertainment is hosting a “BRAWL Wall” event May 21 featuring pro boxing and Texas hip hop artists.
On May 28, Jose Sanchez Charles (19-2-1, 12 KOs) of Mexico takes on Yunier Calzada (6-6-1, 1 KO) of Cuba for the WBC Latino super welterweight title in the main event of a nine-bout Team Morones Boxing pro card at Freeman Coliseum.
Also on May 28, super welterweight Jairo Castaneda (13-2, 5 KOs) of San Antonio meets Leonardo Esquivel Carrizales (5-7-1, 2 KOs) of Mexico atop an 11-bout Undisputed P4P Entertainment card at Brooks City Base.