The DAZN Boxing Show discussed Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’s battling win over Cristian Gonzalez at the weekend.
Rodriguez maintained his unbeaten record and also picked up the vacant WBO flyweight title with a dominant and convincing points decision, shown live on DAZN.
That win was made more impressive after the American revealed after the fight that he had fought half the bout with a broken jaw.
Akin Reyes and Barak Bess were suitably awed.Bess said: “This is a historic performance. We’re going to be talking about this 20 years from now. Broken jaw after six rounds, six more rounds, beat his opponent down. You had no idea his jaw was broken.”
Reyes added: “First off, it was a competitive fight, but he was so tough. I’ve never seen a fighter run that much and still be that tough, counter-punching, awkward angles. Jesse Rodriguez can do it all. Stalk, move his head, defence, feinting, counter-punching, he’s special.”
Bess thinks Rodriguez had to do his learning in the ring given relatively little was known about Gonzalez.
“This is what happens when you get a guy there’s not much tape on,” he explained. “He didn’t have competition like Jesse Rodriguez. He had the stamina to move for 12 rounds, Gonzalez. He was effective in the first round and maybe the last round but Jesse knew how to adjust and stalk you, slip your shots, cut off the ring, it was a beautiful performance.”
Reyes replied: “These are the moments that make you a legendary type of fighter because they talk about these fights. There have been fighters who have been injured who lean towards the quitting side, they look to the ref or doctor to save them. He was not looking for that, he was trying to end his opponent, stop his opponent late in the fight.
“I thought this kid probed that he’s elite, he should be on the pound-for-pound list. I can’t wait for him to get elite opponents so he can prove it to the world.”
Bess concluded: “The name wasn’t big, but the performance was big. Sometimes a fighter has to prove it to himself. The sky’s the limit.”