Undefeated former WBC super flyweight champion Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) faces Cristian Gonzalez (15-1, 5 KOs) in a 12-round clash for the vacant WBO flyweight title at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio.
Rodriguez makes a comeback to flyweight after establishing himself in the competitive junior bantamweight division in 2022. On February 5 in Phoenix, Arizona, the sport's youngest male champion defeated former champion Carlos Cuadras over twelve rounds to capture the vacant WBC 115-pound crown.
Gonzalez, who was previously ranked first, is still in the run to contend for the vacant championship. The 23-year-old Mexican fighter has already won nine straight matches since suffering his lone career defeat by split decision in May 2019.
Watch Rodriguez vs. Gonzalez press conference live from San Antonio: Watch
His winning streak includes two early knockout victories in his most recent two fights, as well as a ten-round victory over former championship challenger Saul "Baby" Juarez in June of 2021. Gonzalez last competed on March 25 of 2022 in Mexico City, when he defeated Juan "Pinky" Alejo at the end of the opening frame.
In the co-main event, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) defends the IBF and WBA super bantamweight titles against IBF mandatory challenger Marlon Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs).
Watch Before the Bell on youtube: Watch
Fight card:
▪️Jesse Rodriguez vs. Cristian Gonzalez, 12 rounds, for vacant WBO flyweight title ▪️Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Marlon Tapales, 12 rounds, for Akhmadaliev’s WBA and IBF super bantamweight title ▪️Raymond Ford vs. Jessie Magdaleno, 12 rounds, for Ford’s WBA Continental Americas featherweight title ▪️Thomas Mattice vs. Ramiro Cesena, 12 rounds, for Mattice’s WBA Continental Americas super featherweight title
Before the bell: Begining at 5 pm ET
▪️Israil Madrimov vs. Raphael Igbokwe, 10 rounds, middleweight ▪️Marc Castro vs. Ricardo Lopez, 8 rounds, lightweight ▪️Khalil Coe vs. Aaron Casper, 6 rounds, light heavyweight ▪️Jesus Martinez vs. Jose Lopez, 4 rounds, super bantamweight
