Jesse Rodriguez is enjoying his role as the co-main attraction of the blockbuster trilogy between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night as he makes his second defense of his WBC super flyweight world title. title against Israel González.
Rodriguez (16-0 11 KOs) has enjoyed a stellar first half of the year, beginning by becoming the youngest active world champion in February, stepping in late to meet Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC belt in Phoenix and then exhibiting a impressive display. in his first defense, stopping Thai star Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio turf in June within eight rounds.
Those performances saw the talent from San Antonio named ESPN Fighter of the Year at its mid-year boxing awards, and while ‘Bam’ spoke of his pride in the honor, he’s determined to prove there’s much more to come in your calendar.
The 22-year-old has lofty ambitions to unify divisions and win crowns at multiple weights, and says meeting Gonzalez (28-4-1 11 KOs) on the biggest stage he has performed on to date will only shed a light. greatest about your unlimited potential. .
“I don’t feel pressure because I feel like I was born for this,” Rodríguez said. “I belong to these big stages, it’s where I feel comfortable. Headlining in San Antonio, Canelo-GGG III co-star, this is where I want to be, has been part of the plan and it’s great to see it unfold. There is expectation on me, all eyes are on me, I know I need to perform at my best but that excites me.
“Canelo is the face of boxing, so to be the one to pull back the curtain on that fight is amazing, so a lot of fans will be able to see what I can do. I’m only 22 years old, so to be doing the things that I’m doing, beating Carlos and Rungvisai, two of the four kings in Super-Fly, I never look back and feel like I need to appreciate what I do, but I minimize what I do. . I do it because I’m a humble guy.
“I’m right where I need to be, it’s just the beginning and the sky is the limit for me. I can’t tell you how far I can go because I don’t know how to stop. I want to be one of those fighters that in 20 years, people say; ‘remember Bam Rodriguez, he was a bad guy’. One of those legends.
“I feel like I’m getting the recognition I deserve, and Saturday is the perfect platform to show everyone that I’m the real deal.”
Rodriguez’s clash with Gonzalez is part of a big night of action in Las Vegas, capped off by the epic trilogy battle between Canelo and Golovkin.
