Jesse Rodriguez. Photograph by Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Coach Robert Garcia has identified all alongside what kind of combat Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is.
“He’s particular,” stated Garcia.
One of many prime trainers within the sport continues to be beaming from Rodriguez’s knockout win over Juan Francisco Estrada this previous Saturday on the Footprint Heart in Phoenix, Arizona. Rodriguez (20-0, 13 knockouts) gained the Ring Journal junior bantamweight championship and the WBC world title belt.
From the opening bell, Rodriguez was the more-effective fighter, breaking Estrada down, hurting him a number of instances and scoring a knockdown in spherical 4. Regardless of being knocked down in spherical six, Rodriguez landed a devastating punch to the physique that dropped Estrada for the rely on the finish of spherical seven.
Garcia, who has skilled Rodriguez because the age of 15, knew Rodriguez would excel and exceed combat fan’s expectations of how the combat performed out.
“It was a fantastic combat,” Garcia informed The Ring Tuesday night. “I wasn’t stunned with Bam’s efficiency as a result of I do know what he might do. I feel he can nonetheless do way more. I’ve stated it since he was a child and I wasn’t mistaken. This child is particular.”
Rodriguez’s win didn’t go unnoticed in boxing circles. Junior welterweight contender Kenneth Sims commented on X (previously often called Twitter) his ideas on the win.
“OMG!! YOU ARE SPECIAL!! @210,” was what Sims posted. “24-12 months-Outdated HALL OF FAMER!!”
There was some scrutiny after the combat with the judges’ scorecards. Coming into spherical seven, decide Steve Morrow had Rodriguez up 58-54, and decide Robert Tapper of Canada had the combat even 56-56.
Decide Javier Castillo had Estrada up 57-56. He scored the primary three rounds for Estrada.
Garcia is glad the combat ended early, avoiding any controversy, ought to the combat have gone to the scorecards.
“The scorecards did shock me, however I’m glad we didn’t need to go to the scorecards,” stated Garcia, who owns the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Riverside, California.
Garcia did verify Rodriguez, who resides in San Antonio, Texas, shall be ringside for this Sunday’s unification conflict between WBA world titleholder Kazuto Ioka and IBF titleholder Fernando Martinez. The 12-round bout will happen at Kokugikan Enviornment in Tokyo, Japan.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has coated boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He may be reached at [email protected]
