Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez says he knows he has to be on his game Saturday night to set up a stellar 2025, as he prepares to defend his WBC world and Ring Magazine world flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday November 9, live worldwide on DAZN, on a night where he shares top billing with local star Jaron "Boots" Ennis on the top of the stacked card, as Ennis defends his IBF world welterweight title against mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian.
Bam (20-0 13 KOs) has already recorded a career-best performance in 2024, knocking out Juan Francisco Estrada in seven thrilling rounds in Phoenix in June, to add the Mexican legend’s name to that of Sunny Edwards, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras to the San Antonio starlet's impressive CV.
In Guevara (42-4-1 22 KOs), Bam faces another Mexican foe that will be giving everything to rip the belts away. The former WBC light-flyweight champion landed the interim WBC world super-flyweight title with an impressive away day win over Andrew Maloney in Perth, Australia in May, and the vastly experienced 35-year-old can become a two-weight world ruler with victory tomorrow night, and the champion is all to aware of the threat the challenger poses.
“I know that this is a very dangerous fight,” said Rodriguez. “It’s a huge opportunity for him, probably the biggest of his career, so he’ll be hungrier than ever to take what I have. But I don’t see anyone beating me, I’m on a different level mentally and physically, so on November 9 you’ll witness me putting on another show.
“This is an important fight because there’s huge things that can happen if I can beat him. I’m taking this just as seriously as my recent fights. Whatever people say I don’t let it get to me, whether it’s good or bad. I know Pedro is going to come with everything, winning this fight can change his life, but sorry to him, I’m not going to let that happen. My life is in a good position right now, so to even perform badly is going to look bad on me. I’m coming to shine on November 9.
“I know he’s never been stopped but I believe I can stop him. If I want to look good and make a statement, I’m going to go out there and look to stop him.
“I have to get past this fight first but the goal is to go for undisputed in 2025. I’m taking this fight as seriously as ever, training my ass off like any other fight, we’re going to handle business and then we can talk about 2025.
“You don’t want to miss this because Boots and I are two of the best fighters in boxing and on November 9 we’re going to go out and perform and shine. You’re going to witness a great show from the both of us. And Still.”
Boots and Bam headline a stacked night of action in Philadelphia, with former world champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at super-featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez, light-heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe takes on Manuel Gallegos, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado makes his Matchroom debut against Jesus Saracho over ten rounds at super-lightweight and Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs against Gian Garrido.
Boots Promotions duo Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad return to the ring, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at super-featherweight.
Black Friday offer - huge saving on a DAZN boxing subscription
DAZN's Black Friday offer gives fight fans huge savings to watch the most exciting fight nights for even cheaper.
A limited time offer, UK viewers get up to 33% off their subscription, while US customers get up to 50%, whether signing up for the first time or renewing a lapsed account.
For an annual subscription, that is now only £89.99, reduced from £119.99, in the UK, and $112.50 down from $224.99 in the US.
DAZN is the home of boxing, broadcasting over 150 fights a year across boxing, bare knuckle boxing, MMA and crossover boxing.
Signing up before November 29, with both annual and monthly options, will get you a ringside seat to the biggest fights still to come this year and into 2025.
That includes Sunny Edwards vs. Galal Yafai, Jaron Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian, Gilberto Ramirez vs. Chris Billam-Smith, Jesse Rodriguez vs. Pedro Guevara, Liam Paro vs. Richardson Hitchins, and many more still to come.
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