Texas was not a place synonymous with boxing years ago. High school football, yes. College football, yes. But the word prizefighting was not part of the Texas vernacular.

That’s all changed.

On Saturday, yet another strong boxing card features several world title fights led by Texas’ own Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez (15-0, 10 KOs) butting heads with Thailand’s feared Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1, 43 KOs) for the WBC superfly title at the Tech Port Arena in San Antonio. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

Several evenly-matched world title clashes are part of this extravaganza. And expect a very large crowd.

Rodriguez, 22, will be trading blows in front of his hometown crowd. He opened eyes with a fearless challenge for a title against Mexico’s Carlos Cuadras four months ago in Phoenix, Arizona. He scored a flashy knockdown of Cuadras via a laser-traced uppercut that has fans watching over and over again on Youtube.com.

Defeating Cuadras was impressive, especially as a last-minute replacement. Fighting the mighty Sor Rungvisai and surviving will be even more revealing. Nobody wants to face this Thai fighter.

Memories are still fresh from the two beatings Sor Rungvisai delivered against Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez five years ago. He followed that up with a decision win over Mexico’s Juan Francisco Estrada the following year. The Mexican fighter avenged that loss and a third fight was scheduled but later scrapped.

When Estrada was unable to fight the door opened for Bam Rodriguez, the younger brother of Joshua Franco who holds the IBF super flyweight title. The young southpaw slugger trains in Riverside, California alongside his brother at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy.

Bam Rodriguez has no fear.

“It’s possibly the toughest test you could face in a first defense of my title but like with the Cuadras fight, I had no hesitation because I am here to takeover,” Rodriguez said.

Confidence.

Super bantams

WBA and IBF super bantamweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) defends against Southern California’s Ronny Rios (33-3, 16 KOs) in the co-main event.

Rios rebounded from two losses in two years with a vengeance as he knocked off the favored Diego De La Hoya and then dominated Hugo Berrio and Oscar Negrete in succession. The Orange County fighter looks chiseled and primed like a Ginsu blade.

The champion Akhmadaliev has led a somewhat charmed life.

Many questioned whether he actually defeated then champion Danny Roman when they met two years ago. Since that split-decision win, the Uzbekistani has fought twice and won versus two less dangerous contenders in Europe.

Akhmadaliev is a talented southpaw with pop who trains with Joel Diaz in Coachella.

Rios has shown a no-mercy approach. It’s not an easy pick.

Undisputed welterweight

Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill (11-2, 4 KOs) meets Mexico’s Alma Ibarra (10-1, 5 KOs) in her third defense of the undisputed welterweight world championship.

McCaskill bludgeoned Cecilia Braekhus in back-to-back fights to capture all the titles. It was shocking because at the time the Norwegian fighter was considered the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world.

Despite those wins the Chicago fighter seems to be flying under the radar. Now she meets another fighter even further out of radar range in Ibarra, a very tall welterweight with amateur and pro experience.

So far McCaskill has shown an impressive ability to fight in numerous styles. In her last defense she overwhelmed Kandi Wyatt with a hurricane-like approach that battered the challenger for seven rounds.

Will the same approach work against the Mexican fighter Ibarra? They prefer that style.

Its an interesting match.

Friday Fights in Pomona

MarvNation is at it again.

A boxing card featuring Southern California prospects takes place featuring undefeated featherweight Francisco Rodriguez (5-0) against veteran Jose Flores Chanez (9-14) at the Derby Room in Pomona Fairplex. Numerous other bouts are planned.

MarvNation also co-promotes Yokasta Valle and Adelaida Ruiz. Another top fighter, Maricela Cornejo, was slated to take part in this card, but the bout fell through. The doors open at 6 p.m.

World Title Fight in Florida

A WBO light flyweight world title fight takes place between Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Gonzalez (25-3-1, 14 KOs) and Philippines Mark Anthony Barriga (11-1, 2 KOs) on Friday June 24 at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida.

The ProBox Promotions card will be streamed on www.ProBoxTV.com at 4:30 p.m. PT.

Top Rank

Budding fight city Mexicali, Mexico hosts a light flyweight clash between South Africa’s Hekkie Budler (33-4, 10 KOs) and former light flyweight champ Elwin Soto (19-2, 13 KOs) at Palenque Fex on Saturday June 25. The Top Rank card will be streamed on ESPN+.

Fights to Watch

Fri. ProBoxTV.com 4 :30 p.m. Jonathan Gonzalez (25-3-1) vs Mark Anthony Barriga (11-1).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Jesse Rodriguez Franco (15-0) vs Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1); Murodjon Akhmadaliev (10-0) vs Ronny Rios (33-3); Jessica McCaskill (11-2) vs Alma Ibarra (10-1).

Sat. ESPN+ 6 p.m. Hekkie Budler (33-4) vs Elwin Soto (19-2).

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