By Elliot Worsell
OFTEN what makes a fighter special rather than simply good is the way in which they win fights. A good fighter, you see, will win fights and consider that to be enough, whereas a special fighter will not only win fights but win them in a manner that suggests they are not content with a win unless their opponent has been thoroughly beaten, vanquished, that is, by way of stoppage or surrender.
In the case of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, he very much falls into the latter camp. This should become even more impressive, too, when you take into account Rodriguez is a super-flyweight standing at just five feet four and weighing 115 pounds. And yet, despite these so-called limitations, Rodriguez doesn’t just win fights, he ends them. He doesn’t just beat world-class opponents; he beats them like they have never been beaten before.
Once again, the young Rodriguez, at the age of 24, proved his worth overnight by defeating the renowned Juan Francisco Estrada in the seventh round and claiming the WBC super-flyweight belt. While any victory would have sufficed for Estrada, Rodriguez, true to his Texan nature, was determined to make this win extraordinary. Just like his previous triumphs over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in 2022 (whom he stopped in eight rounds) and Sunny Edwards in 2023 (whom he stopped in nine rounds), Rodriguez aimed to defeat Estrada in an unexpected manner. He willingly took on maximum risk, but in the end, reaped maximum rewards.
He also did this. He approached Estrada, who was naturally defensive, with a fierce determination that showed his desire to end the fight and by round four, he had successfully knocked down the champion for the first time in the match.
Rodriguez’s display of skill and precision was truly mesmerizing. With a swift right jab, he initiated his offensive, swiftly followed by a powerful left uppercut that caught Estrada off guard. Rodriguez didn’t stop there, swiftly unleashing a supplementary right jab and left cross, with the final blow causing significant damage. Estrada, taken aback by the diverse range of attacks and the intensity of Rodriguez’s punches, found himself tumbling to the canvas. This unexpected turn of events left him stunned, realizing the potential harm he could endure. Notably, only Carlos Cuadras (twice in 2020) and Juan Carlos Sanchez (twice in separate fights in 2011) had managed to achieve such a feat of knocking down Estrada in the past.
Despite his early exit and injury, it would have been tempting to consider Estrada’s age (34) and acknowledge that he is ten years older than Rodriguez. This wouldn’t be a big concern if they were competing in a higher weight class, but in the lower weight classes, fighters are often written off or seen as past their prime once they reach their mid-thirties. I cannot personally determine if this is true for Estrada, who has a record of 44-4 (28), but it’s worth noting that his recent period of inactivity, not having fought at all in 2023, wouldn’t have helped his situation. Even if he were active and gaining momentum, facing someone like Rodriguez, a relentless force filled with youthful passion and ruthless determination, would be the last thing Estrada would want at the age of 34.
Amanda Westcott captures Rodriguez’s successful landing of a right jab in her Matchroom photograph.
However, it should be noted that no one doubted Estrada’s experience or cleverness. This was evident not only prior to the match but also during round six when Estrada skillfully employed both attributes to trap Rodriguez and repay him in kind. As a result, the champion was taken by surprise and knocked down by a powerful right hand. In a sense, Estrada cleverly used Rodriguez’s eagerness against him by allowing him to advance, waiting for him to lose his footing and alignment, and then swiftly launching a series of jabs followed by a decisive right hook. This unexpected sequence left Rodriguez stunned and caused him to collapse onto the canvas.
Rodriguez, feeling more embarrassed than hurt, quickly got back on his feet with a rueful smile. This incident served as a reminder to him that no matter how dominant he became in the fight, there was always lurking danger. While it was embarrassing for him to touch the canvas, he couldn’t help but feel a grudging respect and gratitude for this experience. Being knocked down forced Rodriguez to refocus and elevate his game to new heights. Additionally, with the score now tied at 1-1 in knockdowns, he had an even stronger motivation to bring Estrada down again and achieve the victory he had desired from the beginning.
Jesse Rodriguez, with a record of 20-0 (13), has a smile that speaks volumes. It is a smile that conveys his state of mind and shows his satisfaction with his performance. When he knocked down his opponent in round six, his smile revealed his confidence. And when he finished Estrada with a devastating left hand to the body in round seven, his smile reflected pure contentment, as if he knew he had accomplished his mission. The fact that he could smile while Estrada was in pain on the canvas only made it more powerful and chilling. It is clear that Jesse Rodriguez is truly exceptional, as evidenced by his ability to end a fight in such a dominant manner and walk around the ring with a wide grin.
Melina Pizano of Matchroom captures Estrada’s agony as he squirms in pain.
