Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is scheduled to face Cristian Gonzalez for a vacant flyweight world title Saturday in San Antonio.
JESSE “BAM” RODRIGUEZ (17-0, 11 KOS)
VS. CRISTIAN GONZALEZ (15-1, 5 KOS)
- Date: Saturday, April 8
- Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio
- TV/Stream: DAZN
- Division: Flyweight (112 pounds)
- At stake: Vacant WBO title
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: Rodriguez 18-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Marlon Tapales, junior featherweights (for Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA titles); Raymond Ford vs. Jessie Magdaleno, featherweights; Thomas Mattice vs. Ramiro Cesena, junior lightweights; Israel Madrimov vs. Raphael Igbokwe, middleweights
- Prediction: Rodriguez KO 9
- Background: The talented Rodriguez had a huge 2022, taking down Carlos Cuadras (UD), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (TKO 8) and Israel Gonzalez (UD) to establish himself as a budding star. He isn’t slowing down in 2023. He has moved down from 115 pounds (at which he held a secondary belt) to 112 to fight Cristian Gonzalez for the vacant WBO title on Saturday in his hometown. Rodriguez fought at 112 as recently as October 2021. He stopped his last six opponents in that division, which appears to be an indication of his physical strength at the lower weight. Gonzalez is taking a major step up in opposition. The 32-year-old Mexican has a good skill set but limited power, as his low knockout percentage indicates. He’ll be fighting for the first time since March of last year, when he stopped journeyman Juan Alejo Zuniga in the first round. He has never fought outside his native country. Also on the card, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) of Uzbekistan will defend his IBF and WBA 122-pound titles against former 118-pound beltholder Marlon Tapales (36-3, 19 KOs) of the Philippines. Akhmadaliev, a former amateur star, outpointed Daniel Roman to win his titles in 2020 and has successfully defended three times.
