Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez has been on a meteoric rise, and according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, there’s no stopping him - at least not yet. At just 24 years old, Rodriguez has already taken down big names like Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, and Sunny Edwards, with his latest win being a dominant third-round knockout of Pedro Guevara. But Hearn believes that Rodriguez’s toughest challenge will only come when he decides to move up too far in weight.
Hearn confidently stated that no one at 115 pounds can beat Rodriguez. Instead, the real threat might be Rodriguez’s ambition to climb weight divisions. “The only thing that’s going to beat Bam is going too far through the divisions,” Hearn said.
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The idea of Rodriguez facing Inoue is especially enticing. Hearn acknowledges the massive challenge this would pose, calling it a significant leap against a top-tier pound-for-pound talent. “Bam wants to try and unify [at 115], but if Inoue stays at 122, that fight becomes a real big reality,” Hearn noted. It’s a potential clash that could become a “1 vs. 2” pound-for-pound battle in the years ahead.
Currently, rankings reflect just how close these two fighters are to the top. The Ring has Inoue ranked second and Rodriguez seventh, while the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board places them at No. 2 and No. 6, respectively. Hearn believes Rodriguez is on track to reach the very top, saying, “Bam is a special, special fighter, and I’m so pleased he’s getting the recognition he deserves.”
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing