Young hotshot Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez 15-0 (10) is looking for the big fights after impressively outpointing Carlos ‘Principe’ Cuadras 39-5-1 (27) to claim the vacant WBC super flyweight title by unanimous decision at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old southpaw from San Antonio, Texas became the youngest current reigning champion in boxing with the victory.
Rodriguez, who normally campaigns at junior flyweight, stepped in at late notice to replace former world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai 50-5-1 (43).
The size different was immediately obvious but it played no bearing on the fight. Rodriguez boxed superbly, using clever footwork to set up clean, accurate punches from angles.
Cuadras caught a right uppercut in the third that sent him to the deck. The 33-year-old Mexican veteran kept pressing the action but struggled to adjust to the speed and precision of Rodriguez.
At the end of the bout judges Steve Morrow and Dennis O’Connell both saw the fight 117-110, while judge Barry Lindenman had it slightly closer at 115-112.
According to CompuBox, Cuadras threw 256 more punches than Rodriguez but was out-landed 258 to 172. Rodriguez landed 59 more jabs than Cuadras and 27 more power punches. Rodriguez was particularly accurate placing his power punches, landing 45% (174 of 383). From the sixth round on, Rodriguez landed 77 more punches than Cuadras.
It was a masterful performance by Rodriguez who announced himself on the world stage with the win.
“That was a tough ass fight,” said Rodriguez. “He brought out a Jesse Rodriguez I didn’t know was in me.
“I’m so happy. I knew it was going to be a tough fight, he’s a true warrior, I thought I was going to get him out of there but he’s so strong.
“I stuck to the game plan, used my angles, but in the fifth round I knew he wasn’t going to go so I stayed composed and did my work.”
The deep 115-pound division offers many options for Rodriguez should he choose to stay in the weight class. Nicaraguan legend Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez 50-3 (41) is set to face WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez 18-1 (14), who will be moving up in weight, next month.
Another potential option could be Juan Francisco Estrada 42-3 (28) or Japan’s WBO champion Kazuto Ioka 28-2 (15). Filipino southpaw Jerwin Ancajas 33-1-2 (22) holds the IBF belt.
Rodriguez’s older brother Joshua ‘El Profesor’ Franco 18-1-2 (8) is the WBA ‘regular’ titleholder.
Rodriguez says he is open to campaigning anywhere from junior flyweight to super flyweight depending on what opportunities present themselves and after Saturday night’s performance there should be many opportunities coming his way.
“I feel good at this weight so I will stay here for now but if I get a good fight at 108-pounds or 112-pounds, maybe I’ll get the winner of Chocolatito vs Martinez, who knows?” he said. “I’m just open to the best fights.”
