By Allan Fox: WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez will face #10 ranked fringe contender Israel Gonzalez in the co-feature spot on the Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin III card on September 17th on DAZN. The card will be taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 25-year-old Israel Gonzalez (28-4-1, 11 KOs) is NOT the fighter that boxing fans wanted to see Bam Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KOs) defend against next, but the fight at least will be good for comparison purposes.
Fans wanted the 22-year-old Bam to defend against #1 WBC contender Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, but that’s too big of a fight to be placed in a chief support bout.
Chocolatito will likely face Juan Francisco Estrada next in a trilogy match and the winner to battle Bam Rodriguez in a unification.
Israel Gonzalez was soundly beaten in the recent past by Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, Khalid Yafai, and Jerwin Ancajas. He’s a tough fighter who won’t be an easy out for Bam.
This fight will likely go the full 12-round distance because Gonzalez has an excellent chin, and Bam isn’t a huge puncher.
Boxing’s hottest young star @210bam confirmed as chief support for the huge #CaneloGGG3 card Sept 17 live on @daznboxing #RodriguezGonzalez pic.twitter.com/P43uSItEyz
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) July 11, 2022
Bam Rodriguez is coming off an eighth-round knockout victory over former two-time WBA 115-lb champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on June 25th. It was an excellent win, and some boxing fans believe Bam is ready to take on Chocolatito and Juan Estrada.
The reality is that the 35-year-old Rungvisai was nowhere near the fighter he was four to five years ago when he twice beat Chocolatito and Estrada. He’s slowed down, and his power doesn’t appear to be at the level it was when he beat those two guys.
“I am delighted to make Jesse the first fighter on the undercard of a spectacular night on September 17,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Jesse is the hottest property in the sport right now after his electric performances in the first half of 2022, and he’s looking to build on that on the biggest possible platform.
It’s likely that Matchroom Boxing promoter Hearn will wait until Chocolatito and Estrada age a little more before he sets up a fight for Bam Rodriguez against one or both of them.
Right now, Chocolatito & Estrada are arguably too talented for Bam Rodriguez and would embarrass him and wreck the clever promoter Hearn’s hopes of turning him into a big star attraction.
But if Hearn waits two or three years until Chocolatito and Estrada have slowed down the way Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras, Bam can beat them.
If those fights happen now, this writer won’t give Bam any chance of winning because he’s too defensive and lacks the offensive skills those two talented fighters possess. Bam also doesn’t throw a lot of punches like Chocolatito & Estrada, which would put him at a considerable disadvantage.
