American wunderkind Jesse Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KOs) is one of the top contenders for victory in the 2022 fighter of the year nomination.
WATCH Jesse Rodriguez FIGHTS ON DAZN
The breakthrough of yesterday’s prospect is simply amazing: first he moved up in weight by two categories, won the vacant WBC super flyweight belt in the confrontation with ex-world champion Carlos Cuadras from Mexico, and then in his debut defense he cut off ex-pound puncher Srisaket Sor Rungvisai from Thailand.
Rodriguez is often compared to the ex-lightweight king Ukrainian Vasily Lomachenko – a similar attacking combinational style, gorgeous footwork, attack angles. Before the prospect took the title, he was often referred to as “American Lomachenko” or “Jesse Lomachenko”.
It seemed that the 22-year-old fighter would end the calendar year this month – as an opening act for Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin, he would fight ex-tender from Mexico, Israel Gonzalez.
But the promoter (more precisely, the co-promoter) of the fighter Eddie Hearn (Matchroom Boxing)
confessedthat Rodriguez has another fight planned for December: “As you know, on December 3, the fight of two legends of this weight will take place – Roman Gonzalez will fight the third fight with Juan Francisco Estrada. And then I think the winner should fight Rodriguez. And it will be one of the greatest fights in boxing. Fight Gonzalez vs Estrada 3 will be announced next week. It is possible that we will hold it in San Antonio, and Rodriguez will perform in the co-main event (if he wins without incident in September). Yes, it will be a very cool card!”
The previous fight between Gonzalez and Estrada took place in March last year, ended in a controversial victory for the Mexican – the score in their confrontation became a draw. Hearn believes that “Chocolatito Gonzalez should have won the second fight. It was an unforgettable fight, and the third fight will be even more intriguing. It seems that Roman caught a second youth – he looks better and better. And Estrada did a solid job with the last opponent, though Archi Cortes looked gorgeous. I think Gonzalez will be the favorite for the third fight. Speaking not as a promoter, but as a fan, then the Gonzalez vs Rodriguez fight is simply the greatest event. But let’s not rush. Both need to win first.”
Hearn admitted that making fights in this triangle is very difficult, since “these fighters are not only on contract with us, but also with Teiken Promotions Akihiko Honda, and he is not thrilled with the prospect of bringing his fighters together in head-to-head fights. Still, the fight Chocolatito vs Rodriguez is too good to refuse this idea. Can not wait…”
Interestingly, on the eve of the fight Estrada vs Gonzalez 3, a full-fledged belt was taken away from the champion – two regalia of disputable dignity will be at stake in the fight (titles WBC franchise and The Ring magazine). And in early August, the restless Nonito Donaire announced new grandiose plans – he wants to conquer the fifth category.
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