Trainer Robert Garcia says he has something special in Jesse Rodriguez.
That’s exactly how he looked against veteran Janiel Rivera on the Jamel Herring-Jonathan Oquendo card Saturday in the MGM Grand “bubble” in Las Vegas.
Rodriguez put Rivera down three times before the fight was stopped at 2:03 of the opening round of a scheduled eight-round junior flyweight bout.
Rodriguez (12-0, 8 KOs) hurt Rivera (18-7-3, 11 KOs) early and often. Rivera, a former title challenger, fell into the ropes after the first two knockdowns but collapsed to the canvas after the third, the result of three hard left hands.
The referee didn’t bother to count because Rivera obviously couldn’t continue.
“I told Robert in the locker room that this was the best I ever felt. I think that showed today,” Rodriguez said.