Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is now moments away from making the first defense of his WBC world super flyweight title against mandatory challenger Pedro Guevara.
Of course, it is not the mouthwatering showdown – against either Nicaraguan icon Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez or Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue – that fans have been clamoring for.
But still, tonight is an opportunity for the 24-year-old to prove, once again, why he is one of the most elite pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
And so, with Jesse Rodriguez featuring on a double header alongside fellow rising star Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, the two talented Americans are set to deliver fireworks at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia.
- Read More [Who is Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez? Step into the life of one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world]
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez explains why he chose his new face tattoo
Bam is swiftly developing a formidable reputation as a fighter who, while campaigning in the lighter divisions, is capable of producing destructive finishes against some of the sport’s most seasoned legends.
Against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, for instance, the dynamic puncher claimed his WBC trinket at 115 lbs with an eighth-round stoppage over one of the greatest fighters to grace the smaller weights.
In his clash with Juan Francisco Estrada, too, Rodriguez produced a stunning seventh-round knockout after engaging in an all-action shootout during the early rounds.
And yet, in his civilian life, the pulverizing puncher carries himself with a vastly different aura.
By leaving his ruthless killer instinct in the ring, Bam is able to focus on being a caring father for his newly-born daughter, Mila.
And it was indeed his daughter, he explains when speaking with K.O. Artist Sports, who inspired him to get the letter ‘M’ tattooed on his face.
- Read More [Chris Algieri insists that Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez must face ‘living legend’ after Pedro Guevara]
Will Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez face Naoya Inoue?
One name that has been repeatedly mentioned throughout the build-up for tonight’s fight is, of course, Inoue.
‘The Monster,’ after all, represents the most lucrative option for Rodriguez, who has previously expressed a desire to box in Japan.
But still, while Inoue parades the super bantamweight division with all the jewelry, one would suspect that Bam remains a fair distance away from colliding with the two-division undisputed champion.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani, the super flyweight king said: “I believe 3-4 years from now it’s likely to happen more than now.”