Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is ignoring any talk that Juan Francisco Estrada is the underdog when the pair fight later this month,
The two junior bantamweight fighters meet on June 29 with Estrada bringing the WBC and Ring belts for the weight class, with the fight shown live on DAZN.
Rodriguez has an unbeaten record and the bookies’ odds in his favour, but speaking to BoxingScene, he dismissed the betting chances.
“I don’t pay attention to any of that. It plays no factor. I can be the underdog,” Rodriguez said.
“The odds don’t mean anything. I know he’s going to be on top of his game and coming for everything. I’m expecting the best Estrada. It’s going to be a great fight – expect fireworks.
“He’s a legend of the sport in the lower weight divisions. It’s an honor for me to be inside the ring with him. Come June 29, though, all of that goes out of the window and he’s just any other opponent.”
With Rodriguez the younger and more active man, he thinks he nevertheless has the edge.
“I think the youth is going to play a big factor – especially that Estrada is coming off a big layoff,” he said.
“I'm expecting the best Estrada. He moves very well. He knows how to box and has a great IQ. … Sunny Edwards also had good movement, and we saw what I did to that.”
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