‘Bam’ remembers ‘El Gallo’ criticism ahead of blockbuster clash

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez says his fight with Juan Francisco Estrada isn’t personal – but he wants to prove ‘El Gallo’ wrong for his past criticism ahead of their blockbuster clash for Estrada’s WBC World and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight titles at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday June 29, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT TICKETMASTER.COMRodriguez (19-0 12 KOs) is looking to reclaim the WBC strap he won in February 2022 by outclassing Carlos Cuadras in Arizona to be crowned World champion for the first time and he defended the crown in stunning fashion four months later with a stoppage win over Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio home patch, knocking over two of the ‘new Four Kings’ of boxing.

‘Bam’ can tick off a third king on June 29 with victory over Estrada (44-3 28 KOs) who himself holds wins over Cuadras, Rungvisai and the fourth of the vaunted quartet, Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez. Rodriguez has remembered some of the words that ‘El Gallo’ had for him following his wins over Cuadras and Rungvisai, and also his recent unification victory over Sunny Edwards, and while the San Antonio ace says it’s not personal, he admitted that those words have added fuel to the fire.

“This is a very important fight for me,” said Rodriguez. “When I had that WBC belt before, he said a few things discrediting my wins against Cuadras and Rungvisai, so that on top of fighting for his World title makes it as big as can be. I just know I’m going to have my hand raised, by KO or on points. 

“I wouldn’t call it personal to the point where I am mad about what he said, but he I do want to prove him wrong and show him that I am the truth, the real deal, and on Saturday, he’s going to see.

“Growing up I was still an amateur watching his fights against Chocolatito, Rungvisai and Cuadras, so to share the ring with him is an honor, but that all goes out of the window on Saturday. He’s trying to take my ‘0’ and I’m not going to let that happen. 

“I’m here for a good time and not a long time, I don’t want to be fighting for a long time, so I want to get big fights and give entertaining fights to the fans, just be pure entertainment. 

“Seeing all the fighters that have become undisputed in the last few years, holding all the belts in the ring, it’s very motivating to me. To be undisputed at 115lbs would be a great accomplishment. I think that there is a rematch clause after this fight so I would rematch Estrada, but then say I win, I want to go for the other belts. The Ring Magazine is a very popular belt and not every fighter has the chance to fight for it. It means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to hold it.”

Rodriguez’s clash with Estrada is part of a stacked night of action in Phoenix, where former World champions Sunny Edwards and Adrian Curiel collide, unbeaten duo Arturo Cardenas and Danny Barrios meet for the WBC Continental Americas Super-Bantamweight title and Yamileth Mercado defends her WBC World Super-Bantamweight title against Ramla Ali.

Matchroom’s latest signing Leonardo Rubalcava will open the show against William Flenoy over six rounds, Phoenix’s Fabian Rojo faces New Mexico’s Daniel Gonzalez over six rounds at Welterweight and unbeaten Californian Bantamweight Gabriel Muratalla meets Mexican Carlos Fontes over eight rounds.