Connect with us

Featured Articles

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez Steps Up in Class with Pizzazz; Turns Away Cuadras

Published

on

Jesse-Bam-Rodriguez-Steps-Up-in-Class-With-Pizzazz-Turns-Away-Cuadras

Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing was at the NBA arena in Phoenix tonight with a card that took a back seat to a Showtime ppv card in Las Vegas that went head-to-head. However, the Matchroom card on DAZN produced a doozy of a main event and a breakthrough performance by Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, a 22-year-old southpaw from San Antonio who stepped up in class on short notice and defeated Carlos Cuadras by unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC super flyweight title, a belt that Cuadras previously owned.

Cuadras was supposed to fight Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (aka Wisaksil Wangek) in a rematch of their 2014 fight in Mexico City, a bout won by Cuadras on a technical decision after the match was halted in the eighth frame by an injury caused by an accidental head butt. But Sor Rungvisai took ill after arriving in Phoenix from Thailand and Rodriguez, who was already on the card, stepped up to fill the void.

Although he was undefeated (14-0, 10 KOs), casual fans gave Rodriguez little chance against Cuadras who brought a 39-4-1 record and was a veteran of nine world title fights. But those in the know were aware that Bam Rodriguez, who trains in Riverside, California at Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, was a budding star and they chunked it in on the kid who closed at better than a 3/1 favorite.

Rodriguez scored the bout’s lone knockdown, decking Cuadras with a picture-perfect right uppercut in round three. But Cuadras had his moments and wasn’t deterred from pressing the action. The scores – 115-112 and 117-110 twice for the upstart – were entirely fair but the 117-110 tallies didn’t do justice to what was an entertaining scrap with many close rounds.

Rodriguez won’t be looking to unify the belt against his WBA counterpart because that happens to be his brother, Joshua Franco. But his weight class is chock full of fan-friendly fighters which bodes well for the fans.

Other Bouts

The bantamweight fight between 37-year-old Jamie Mitchell and 35-year-old Carly Skelly, sanctioned as a title fight by the nefarious WBA, was a terrible mismatch. Mitchell, making the first defense of the title she won in Liverpool, England, with an upset of Shannon Courtenay, overwhelmed her British opponent who was down twice and out on her feet when the referee halted the carnage at the midpoint of round four.

A full-time nurse in a hospital pediatric ward and mother of two from Liverpool making her U.S. debut and her first ring appearance in 15 months, Skelly was 4-0-1 heading in, but didn’t belong in the same ring with the LA-born Mitchell (8-0-2, 5 KOs) who trains under Dewey Cooper at the Mayweather Boxing Club.

In a 10-round featherweight contest, Camden, New Jersey southpaw Raymond Ford won a split decision over Fort Worth’s Edward Vazquez. The scores were 98-92 and 97-93 for Ford with the dissenter favoring Vazquez 96-94. Vazquez was the aggressor from the opening bell and the crowd booed the decision.

This was a battle between unbeatens with both fighters stepping up in class. Ford, who improved to 11-0-1 (6) is a former National Golden Gloves champion who was put on the fast track after signing with Matchroom coming out of the amateur ranks. This was his third scheduled 10-rounder. Vazquez was 11-0 heading in.

Riverside, California flyweight Fernando Diaz, who was originally scheduled to fight Jesse Rodriguez, had his hands full with late addition Lorenzo Smith, but rallied after getting knocked down in the fifth round with a counter left hook and hung on to win a 10-round unanimous decision, improving to 11-1-1 (3).

The judges had it 96-93 and 95-94 twice. Smith was undefeated coming in (10-0, 8 KOs), but his record was suspect as all of his fights were in Mexico.

Promising 18-year-old middleweight prospect Elijah Garcia, a local fighter, advanced to 10-0 (9 KOs) at the expense of Kansas City’s Antonio Hernandez whose corner stopped the contest after three rounds. Hernandez, 22, had a woeful record (6-11-2 coming in) but had won his last five.

Photo credit: Ed Mulholland / Matchroom

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Undercard-Results-and-Recaps-from-the-Inoue-Cardenas-Show-in-Las-Vegas
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Undercard Results and Recaps from the Inoue-Cardenas Show in Las Vegas

Bombs-Away-in-Las-Vegas-where-Inoue-and-Espinoza-Scored-Smashing-Triumphs
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Bombs Away in Las Vegas where Inoue and Espinoza Scored Smashing Triumphs

Arne's-Almanac-The-Good-the-Bad-and-the-(mostly)-Ugly-A-Weeend-Boxing-Recap-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Arne’s Almanac: The Good, the Bad, and the (Mostly) Ugly; a Weekend Boxing Recap and More

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles1 week ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Stephen-Breadman-Edwards-An-Unlikely-Boxing-Coach-with-a-Panoramic-View-of-the-Sport
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

“Breadman” Edwards: An Unlikely Boxing Coach with a Panoramic View of the Sport

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-Top-Rank-and-San-Diego-Smoke
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: Top Rank and San Diego Smoke

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles7 days ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles1 week ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles5 days ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Remembering-the-Under-Appreciated-Body-Snatcher-Mike-McCallum,-a-Conusmmate-Pro
Featured Articles1 day ago

Remembering the Under-Appreciated “Body Snatcher” Mike McCallum, a Consummate Pro    

A-Night-of-Mismatches-Turns-Topsy-Turvy-at-Mandalay-Bay-Resendiz-Shocks-Plant
Featured Articles2 days ago

A Night of Mismatches Turns Topsy-Turvy at Mandalay Bay; Resendiz Shocks Plant

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-Where-Melikuziev-Nipped-Fulghum-in-a-Fierce-Fight
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas Where Melikuziev Nipped Fulghum in a Fierce Battle

Avila-Perspective-Chap-228-Viva-Las-Vegas-Back-in-the-Boxing-Spotlight
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 228: Viva Las Vegas, Back in the Boxing Spotlight

Vinny-Paz-is-Going-into-the-Boxing-Hall-of-Fame-Hey-why-Not-Roger-Mayweather?
Featured Articles5 days ago

Vinny Paz is Going into the Boxing Hall of Fame; Hey, Why Not Roger Mayweather?

Newspaperman-Playwright-Author-Bobby-Cassidy-Jr-Commemorates-his-Fighting-Father
Featured Articles7 days ago

Newspaperman/Playwright/Author Bobby Cassidy Jr Commemorates His Fighting Father

Ekow-Essuman-Upsets-Josh-Taylor-and-Moses-Itauma-Blasts-Out-Mike-Balogun-in-Glasgow
Featured Articles1 week ago

Ekow Essuman Upsets Josh Taylor and Moses Itauma Blasts Out Mike Balogun in Glasgow

Angelo-Leo-Retains-His-Featherweight-Title-Before-a-Hostile-Crowd-in-Osaka
Featured Articles1 week ago

Angelo Leo Retains His Featherweight Title Before a Hostile Crowd in Osaka

in-A-Trubute-Wedded-to-Memorial-Day-Boxing-Writer-David-Avila-Pays-Homage-to-Absent-Friends
Featured Articles1 week ago

In a Tribute Wedded to Memorial Day, Boxing Writer David Avila Pays Homage to Absent Friends

Local-Fan-Favorites-Terri-Harpet-and-Maxi-Hughes-Victorious-in-Doncaster
Featured Articles1 week ago

Local Fan Favorites Terri Harper and Maxi Hughes Victorious in Doncaster

Italy-Mourns-the-Death-of-Legendary-Boxer-Nino-Benvenuti
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Italy Mourns the Death of Legendary Boxer Nino Benvenuti

Boxing-Notes-and-Nuggets-from-Thomas-Hauser
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Boxing Notes and Nuggets from Thomas Hauser

Hiruta-Bohachuk-and-Trinidad-Win-at-the-Commerce-Casino
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Hiruta, Bohachuk, and Trinidad Win at the Commerce Casino

David-Allen-Bursts-Johnny-Fisher's-Bubble-at-the-Copper-Box
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

David Allen Bursts Johnny Fisher’s Bubble at the Copper Box

Avila-Perspective-Chap-326-A-Hectic-Boxing-Week-in-LA
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 326: A Hectic Boxing Week in L.A.

Sam-Goodman-and-Eccentric-Harry-Garside-Score-Wins-on-a-Wednesday-Card-in-Sydney
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Sam Goodman and Eccentric Harry Garside Score Wins on a Wednesday Card in Sydney

Thomas-Hauser's-Literary-Notes-Johnny-Greaves-Tells-a-Sad-Tale
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Thomas Hauser’s Literary Notes: Johnny Greaves Tells a Sad Tale

Argentina's-Fernando-Martinez-Wins-His-Rematch-with-Kazuto-Ioka
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Argentina’s Fernando Martinez Wins His Rematch with Kazuto Ioka

Emanuel-Navarrete-Survives-a-Bloody-Battle-with-Charly-Suarez-in-San-Diego
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Emanuel Navarrete Survives a Bloody Battle with Charly Suarez in San Diego

Late-Bloomer-Anthony-Cacace-TKOs-Hometown-Favorite-Leigh-Wood-in-Nottingham
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Late Bloomer Anthony Cacace TKOs Hometown Favorite Leigh Wood in Nottingham

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending