Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, the reigning WBO champion at 112 pounds, is gearing up for what might be his last fight in the flyweight division. On Saturday, Rodriguez (18-0, 11 KOs) is set to face IBF title holder Sunny Edwards (20-0, 4 KOs) in a highly anticipated unification bout at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, streaming live on DAZN. Regardless of the outcome, Rodriguez is eyeing a move to the 115-pound super flyweight class in 2024, signaling a new chapter in his already impressive career.

2022 marked a year of triumph for Rodriguez in the super flyweight division, where he clinched the WBC title against Carlos Cuadras, followed by victories over elite opponents like Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Israel Gonzalez. Despite dropping down to 112 pounds and securing the WBO title against Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez in April, Rodriguez’s jaw injury and subsequent surgery were setbacks he had to overcome. These challenges have only fueled his ambition to conquer the super flyweight category.

A potential showdown looms large for Rodriguez against Juan Francisco Estrada, the reigning WBC champion at 115 pounds. Estrada, a Mexican boxing icon, claimed the title vacated by Rodriguez after defeating Roman Gonzalez last year. Given that both fighters are under Matchroom Boxing, a clash between them in the coming year seems more than just a possibility. “I want to reclaim the WBC belt I left behind,” Rodriguez declares, setting his sights on the title.

Rodriguez is not just targeting Estrada; he has his eyes on all the current champions in the super flyweight division, including Kazuto Ioka (WBA), Fernando Martinez (IBF), and Junto Nakatani (WBO). A particular grudge match against Ioka beckons, as Rodriguez seeks to avenge his brother Joshua Franco’s defeat to the Japanese boxer earlier this year.

Embodying the spirit of a true fighter, Rodriguez is clear about his intentions: no warm-up fights, only the best from here on out. “Every fight from now is as crucial as a title fight for me,” he states, underlining his commitment to facing top-tier opponents in every bout. As Rodriguez prepares for his leap into the super flyweight division, the boxing world watches with bated breath, anticipating the next chapter of this thrilling saga.

Image Credit: DAZN