WBO flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez says he’s going to wear down and stop IBF champ Sunny Edwards this Saturday night in their unification contest on DAZN at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Edwards wants to follow in the footsteps of boxing great Manny Pacquiao by capturing seven or eight-division world titles. As such, Saturday’s fight with Sunny is just a speed bump for Bam, who intends to run him over on his way to greatness.
Sunny has flown into Bam Rodriguez’s web at the Desert Arena and could find it difficult to extricate himself from it. The 27-year-old Sunny believes he’s seen it all in his short career, but this may be a step too far for him.
The 23-year-old Bam Rodriguez (18-0, 11 KOs) has the youth, size, power, and home advantage over the visiting fighter Sunny (20-0, 4 KOs), and he plans on using it to destroy him.
The stage is set
Some would say Sunny is a bit of a narcissist, believing he’s infallible and can beat anybody in the 112-lb division. When you look at the guys he’s fought, it’s understandable why he thinks he can walk on water.
Edwards fancies himself as a technical master, capable of picking apart anyone, but we’ll find out on Saturday if his skills will hold up under the firepower that Bam will be unloading on him.
In looking at Edwards’s record, it’s obvious that he hasn’t fought anyone that you can say, ‘That’s a good fighter,’ and that’s why Sunny could be asking for trouble on Saturday night unless Bam is confused about how to dissect his crafty fighting style.
“What Manny Pacquiao has done is what I want to do. He has won seven or eight divisions. I’m at two right now, so I’ve got a lot of catching up to do,” said Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez to Matchroom Boxing.
Only a matter of time
“I want to take this fight, win this fight, and the rest is history. I got a lot more left in the tank. I was at a Chocolatito fight, and Canelo walked by. He got people out of the way, and he pointed at me, like ‘Congratulations.’
“That was crazy. Canelo is pound-for-pound. So for him to congratulate me was pretty cool; it was amazing. When Canelo knows who you are, that’s a big deal.”
Canelo’s acknowledgment is a signal that Bam Rodriguez is special fighter and one heading for great things. The Mexican warrior doesn’t honor every fighter like this. He knows talent when he sees it, which is bad news for Edwards, who is heading for trouble on Saturday.
“He’s a great fighter. I’m not going to sit here and say he’s not who he is,” said Bam. “He’s a great fighter. He has a high IQ. Great footwork great speed. I feel like he’s a complete fighter, but I’m better than him,” said Bam Rodriguez when asked about his view on Sunny Edwards.
This fight is a clash of styles – power vs. technical talent, and it’s going to be next to impossible for Edwards to overcome the brute strength of Bam once he starts landing his huge shots.
“I feel like Sunny is going to come out and do what he does. It’s only a matter of time before I catch his tricks and catch his timing, and after that, I feel like I’ll be able to wear him down and get him out of there. I honestly can’t wait,” said Rodriguez.
“Fireworks. It’s going to be a great fight. Sunny brings his best. He’s a very exciting fighter. I bring my best, and I’m an exciting fighter as well. When two styles like that match up, when two personalities like this match up, it’s all fireworks.”
It’s going to be fun to see how this fight ends. Sunny will be facing a hungry lion, and he’s going to have to be on his scooter all night, trying to get away from this fierce beat.
“I feel like, after this, my time at flyweight is done, and I’ll move up to 115 again,” said Bam Rodriguez.
