Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez Has A Lot More To Show Fans

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) is all set to potentially take Antonio Vargas’ (19-1-1, 11 KOs) WBA bantamweight on Saturday. As the ring at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, awaits the fighters, there is one thing Rodriguez wants to remind fans of: ‘Y’all ain’t seen anything yet.’

In a conversation with Ring Magazine, Rodriguez shed light on how he has been pushed to perform at his best as his fights have gotten tougher.

“I feel that I do have a lot more I can show to the fans. In past fights, I haven’t had to show a hundred percent of myself. As the fights get tougher, the better I perform,” he said. “My mentality is that I just go in there and do what I have to do. I have a more relaxed style now with all of the experience that I have picked up along the way. I’m more confident now in the ring.”

Rodriguez is coming off a dominant run at super flyweight, where he unified the WBC, WBO, WBA, and Ring Magazine titles by beating elite opponents such as Juan Francisco Estrada, Fernando Martinez, etc. However, ahead of the Vargas bout, he officially vacated his 115-pound titles (WBA, WBC, and WBO) to fully commit to moving up to bantamweight and pursue a third divisional world championship.

Meanwhile, fans and media are constantly asking about a fight with Naoya Inoue. In fact, it’s become one of the most anticipated potential fights in boxing, with Rodriguez himself calling the matchup “inevitable.” But, in his own words, he still has work to do.

“People are talking about Nakatani and Inoue, and I am not even in that weight class yet. I’m barely moving up to 118, but I have work to do here in this weight class, and I take one fight at a time,” he said. “I know Vargas is going to give me a great fight, and if I am not focused and I look past him, I won’t get the job done. We can speak about the future after I beat Vargas.”

“A Perfect Storyline”

With him entering the bantamweight division, Rodriguez also has his eyes on the WBC belt, currently held by Takuma Inoue. A lead-up fight that he calls an impeccable arc in his career novella.

“That’s a perfect storyline to the Inoue fight, beating his brother and then fighting Naoya. I just need to stay focused on this Vargas fight. I know it’s a tough fight I have in front of me. I know I can get the job done. I will get the job done on June 13,” he said. “I know when that Naoya Inoue fight does happen, the fans are in for a great night of boxing.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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