Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez vs. Cristian Gonzalez | DAZN - 8 April 2023

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Mostly likely will challenge Gonzalez for the WBO Flyweight belt, which is vacant.

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Sources: Jesse Rodriguez, Cristian Gonzalez set for title fight

Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez will meet Cristian Gonzalez for the WBO's vacant flyweight title on April 8 in San Antonio, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

Rodriguez is ESPN's No. 3 boxer at 115 pounds but revealed plans to move down one weight class following his September victory over Israel Gonzalez.

At 112 pounds, Rodriguez will chase his first full-fledged world title. He was the WBC titleholder at 115 pounds after Juan Francisco Estrada, the organization's longtime champion, was bestowed franchise champion status.

Now, Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) will set up shop in a familiar weight class when he takes on Cristian Gonzalez, who has lost only once but has never competed outside his native Mexico.

Rodriguez, 22, who is from San Antonio, broke out last year in a big way. He began his 2022 campaign with a decision victory over former champion Carlos Cuadras in February.

He followed up with an even more impressive victory, an eight-round TKO of longtime former champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Rungvisai owns wins over future Hall of Famers Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez and Estrada, and Rodriguez was able to pick him apart in a star-making performance.

After that victory, Rodriguez signed a long-term extension with promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and returned with a decision win over Israel Gonzalez on the Canelo Alvarez-Gennadiy Golovkin 3 undercard.

Hearn hoped to match Rodriguez with Estrada and perhaps Chocolatito in 2023, but those plans are on hold for now while he campaigns at 112 pounds. (Rodriguez's brother, Joshua Franco, retained his 115-pound title following a draw with Kazuto Ioka on Dec. 31.)

The 23-year-old Gonzalez (15-1, 5 KOs) has never faced an opponent of significance.

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SATURDAY, APRIL 8: JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ VS. CRISTIAN GONZALEZ

Boxing’s youngest World Champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) attempts to become a two-weight ruler when he clashes with Cristian ‘El Chicharito’ Gonzalez (15-1, 5 KOs) for the vacant WBO 112lbs at the Boeing Center at Tech Port, San Antonio. The 23-year-old sensation from San Antonio, Texas enjoyed a stellar 2022, becoming boxing’s youngest active World Champion in February, stepping in late to meet Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC Super-Flyweight strap in Phoenix and then putting on a stunning display in his first defence, stopping Thai star Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio home turf in June inside eight rounds. He was named the Fighter of the Year by ESPN in their midyear awards for 2022 before outpointing Israel Gonzalez on the ‘Canelo’ vs. ‘GGG’ undercard in September.

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Fight Week!!

[handsofstone]

Quality card this

[garethhop]

Just looking at the arena they got for this. Very small set up - couple of thousand? - and bucketloads of tickets left - you can sit ringside in the 6th row for 74 dollars.

Jesus.

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Fight Night!!

[samwbr]

Quality card this

[jameswilson]

Just looking at the arena they got for this. Very small set up - couple of thousand? - and bucketloads of tickets left - you can sit ringside in the 6th row for 74 dollars.

Jesus.

As much as we know different regards the quality of the fights, the lower weights just don’t sell in the US or here in the UK.

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Date: Saturday April 8, 2023
Location: Boeing Center at Tech Port - San Antonio, TX
TV/Stream: DAZN

Start Times
Youtube: 5:15 pm ET | 2:15 pm PT | 10:15 pm BST (Preliminary Card)
DAZN: 8 pm ET | 5 pm PT | 1 am BST (Main Card)

Promoted by: Matchroom Boxing

Main Card

Vacant WBO Flyweight Championship
Jesse Rodriguez vs. Cristian Gonzalez

Unified WBA & IBF Super Bantamweight Championship
Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Marlon Tapales

WBA Continental Americas Featherweight Championship
Raymond Ford vs. Jessie Magdaleno

WBC Continental Americas Super Featherweight Championship
Thomas Mattice vs. Ramiro Cesena

Undercard

10 Round Middleweight Bout
Israil Madrimov vs. Raphael Igbokwe

8 Round Lightweight Bout
Marc Castro vs. Ricardo Lopez

6 Round Light Heavyweight Bout
Khalil Coe vs. Aaron Casper

4 Round Super Bantamweight Bout
Jesus Martinez vs. Jose Lopez

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Prelims have begun

[handsofstone]

Martinez sporting a rats tail, means he has devastating power

[garethhop]

Calzaghe and Barker have been sold a pup.

[jameswilson]

Martinez sporting a rats tail, means he has devastating power

Trying to source his inner Kostaya Tszyu.

[jameswilson]

Marc Castro showing very impressive stamina here if a bit of a lack of power. Thrown a hell of a lot of power punches back to back in this last round to show he is very much ready for 10 rounders.

As I type that he stuns his opponent and finishes it with the kind of stoppage you’d wish British referees would wait and let play out.

[Counter-puncher]

Marc Castro showing very impressive Damon here if a bit of a lack of power.


the kind of stoppage you’d wish British referees would wait and let play out.

What’s that?

And who’s Damon?

[jameswilson]

Marc Castro showing very impressive Damon here if a bit of a lack of power.


the kind of stoppage you’d wish British referees would wait and let play out.

What’s that?

And who’s Damon?

Not sure how I miss spelled stamina for it to auto correct to Damon.

[Delta Jay]

Who’s watching what card? I’m on the Shak undercard now but I’m happy to switch. Weirdly there’s 4 cards in tonight? What’s the best fight of the night?

[Delta Jay]

Martinez sporting a rats tail, means he has devastating power

Tiny ring, hometown judges, camo shorts?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who’s watching what card? I’m on the Shak undercard now but I’m happy to switch. Weirdly there’s 4 cards in tonight? What’s the best fight of the night?

Isn’t it just Showtims. ESPN and DAZN?

[handsofstone]

Had Rodriguez winning 119-109, thought a couple of they scores looked generous to Gonzalez but props to him, tough hombre and did make Rodriguez work for the win, tall upright, good lateral movement and constantly switched lefty to righty to try upset the rhythm of Rodriguez and he did land plenty but the gulf in class was evident, not just in the delivery of the punches but the way they were received, everything Gonzalez landed bounced off Rodriguez no sweat and Bam kept coming and punching, his foot movement sublime, the way he judges distance to land the jab and left cross, the way he cuts off the ring and gets up close to land the big power punches is sheer class, one criticism might be he never worked the body enough against a moving target but still a domination from Rodriguez and only the chin and heart of Gonzalez made it a distance fight, an enjoyable one sided fight

[Ruthless-RKO]

Broken jaw confirmed.

Will need surgery.