Jesse Rodriguez is enjoying his role as co-star of the blockbuster trilogy between Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday night as he makes his second defense of his title. WBC World Super Flyweight Championship. title against Israel González.
The event, presented by Matchroom, Canelo Promotions and GGG Promotions, will be broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View in the US and Canada, as well as worldwide on DAZN (excluding Mexico, Latin America and Kazakhstan). .
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.
“Heading in San Antonio, Canelo-GGG III co-star, this is where I want to be, it’s been part of the plan and it’s great to see it play out. 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 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 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.
Fireworks are promised as Ali Akhmedov and Gabriel Rosado meet for the IBF North American super middleweight title, Diego Pacheco fights for his first belt when he takes on Enrique Collazo for the IBF silver super middleweight title. WBC’s USNBC, Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams fights for his second professional title when he takes on Kieron Conway for the vacant WBA International middleweight title.
Three more young talents round out the stacked card as Marc Castro appears on his fifth Canelo undercard against Kevin Montiel Mendoza, Aaron Aponte mixes up against undefeated Canelo Promotions prospect Fernando Molina also over eight and Anthony Herrera gets a chance to bounce back for gain. he forms on the biggest stage as he takes on Delvin McKinley.
All that action leads up to the third installment of the classic modern-day rivalry between Canelo and Golovkin, with the Mexican king putting his undisputed super middleweight crown on the line against the current WBA and IBF middleweight ruler of Kazakhstan in the showdown. most anticipated of 2022.
