By Jim Calfa: Srisaket Sor Rungvisai has tested positive for COVID-19 and will now be replaced by Jessie ‘Bam’ Rodriguez for a fight against Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC super flyweight title this Saturday, February 5th for the main event on DAZN at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
The 22-year-old Rodriguez (14-0, 10 KOs), who recently signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing, had previously been scheduled to fight on the undercard of the Rungvisao vs. Cuadras in a 10 round fight against Fernando Diaz. Rodriguez fights at flyweight.
Fortunately for DAZN and Matchroom, the San Antonio, Texas native ‘Bam’ Rodriguez will be stepping up to the 115-lb division to take on the 33-year-old Cuadras for the vacant WBC 115-lb title.
It’s a disappointment for boxing fans that they won’t get the opportunity to watch the former WBC super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1, 43 KOs) face Cuadras (39-4-1, 27 KOs), in the main event in a rematch of their 2014 fight. Cuadras won that fight by an eight round technical decision.
The five-year professional Jesse Rodriguez is considered a future start at flyweight, but he’s going to be taking a big step up in class in taking on the former WBC super flyweight champion Cuadras in the headliner.
For the contenders in the top 15 in the World Boxing Council’s rankings at 115, some of them might not be pleased seeing the inexperienced flyweight Rodriguez moved ahead of them to take on #3 Cuadras for the vacant WBC super flyweight title on Saturday. Rodriguez isn’t ranked in the top 15 at 115 or 112.
‘Bam’ Rodriguez’s last five fights:
- Jose Alejandro Burgos – KO 4
- Saul Juarez – KO 2
- Janiel Rivera – KO 1
- Marco Sustaita – TKO 8
Rodriguez is knocking everyone out, but he’s not been fighting contenders on the world level. On Saturday, Rodriguez will be put in the position of fighting one of the best at 115 in Carlos Cuadras, who can punch and has a lot of experience in the pros and amateurs.
What ‘Bam’ Rodriguez has going for him in this fight is his youth and the fact that Cuadras is on the downside of his long 14-year professional career.
Moreover, Cuadras is coming off a 16-month layoff since suffering an 11th round knockout loss to Juan Francisco Estrada in October 2020.
According to sources, Rungvisai tested positive for Covid, and since [Jesse] Rodríguez was scheduled to support the evening for a regional title, the opportunity for the new duel between Carlos and Jesse was requested,” said Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN Deportes.
“The Thai Srisaket Sor Rungvisai would have had problems traveling to the United States, and will not be able to fight this Saturday in Phoenix, Arizona, against Carlos ‘Príncipe’ Cuadras for the vacant [WBC] Super Flyweight championship of the World Boxing Council.