Bam Rodriguez is set to fight 11-0-3 Phumelela Cafu in July, just over one year since he delivered a career-defining performance over a seasoned veteran.
Bam Rodriguez is making his bid for the pound-for-pound list as the 21-0 fighter seeks to unify the super-flyweight division against WBO champ Phumelela Cafu.
Bam was expected to fight Chocolatito next, or the winner of Fernando Martinez vs Kazuto Ioka, but it was Cafu who got the fight. Cafu won the title over Kosei Tanaka via split decision in his 14th fight.
Bam will hope to make another statement, just as he did against Sor Rungvisai, Sunny Edwards, and a 48-fight veteran.
Bam Rodriguez is the only man to knock out Juan Francisco Estrada in 48 professional fights
In 2024, Bam faced 44-3 Juan Francisco Estrada. Estrada had only lost to Sor Rungvisai, who Bam already beat and who Estrada defeated in their rematch, Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, who Estrada beat two out of three times the pair fought, and Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr., who Estrada beat in their rematch.
Despite his losses, Estrada avenged every loss on his record and has not lost to anyone he was not able to beat in a rematch.
All three losses came by decision until Bam came into the picture. The fight was close going into the seventh, with one judge scoring it 56-56 a tie, another scoring it 57-56 Estrada and the third scoring it 58-54 Rodriguez.
Both men were dropped in the thrilling fight, with Estrada down in rounds four and seven, and Rodriguez down in round six. Ultimately, Bam stopped Estrada in the seventh round, capturing his WBC title.
Bam said he expected Estrada to be tougher.
Bam Rodriguez’s next opponent has fought to a draw three times against questionable opposition
Bam’s next opponent, Cafu, has no losses on his record, but does have three draws.
The first came in his second ever pro fight against his opponent who was making their pro debut. Given it was just his second fight and a four-rounder, this is not terrible, as many fighters have performed worse but gone on to do great things – Bernard Hopkins lost his debut but became a world champion.
However cracks started to show a few fights later when Cafu fought to a draw again in 2019, a year after his debut, in his fifth fight. He drew against an opponent with a record of 6-6, whose career only worsened to 10-10-1 in the years after their encounter.
In 2022, in Cafu’s seventh fight, he drew once more, this time for the South African flyweight title. At least this draw was a majority decision, with one judge scoring in his favor.
These draws made it even more shocking when Cafu caused the upset and defeated Tanaka in Japan.