LOS ANGELES (April 21, 2026) – World super flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (17-1, 9 KOs), currently ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing Association (WBA), is still waiting for Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) to decide if he’ll move up to campaign as a bantamweight boxer, which would open Ramirez’ path to change for one of Rodriguez’ three super flyweight world title belts.

“I’ve had some unique experiences the last 5 years,” LA native Ramirez said. “In my soul, I haven’t fulfilled my goal yet. I’m isolated and focused on that (winning a world title). I have had extra time to travel and train with friends like Regis Prograis in Texas to learn more and stay refreshed.

“I just need to continue trusting the process in boxing. As a fighter, I don’t like sitting around waiting for the pieces to move. We have a plan and it includes options. Regardless of the situation, I will continue to get better, and most importantly keep winning.”

Rodriguez is the unified super flyweight world champion of the WBA, World Boxing Organization (WBO), and World Boxing Council. (WBC). Ramirez has been the WBA No. 1 contender since this past January. He is also rated No. 6 by the WBO and No. 12 by the WBC. Rumors were flying around that Rodriguez was ready to relinquish his three super flyweight crowns and would move up in weight to challenge one of the world bantamweight champions.

Recent reports have Rodrigez, who was also a unified flyweight world champion, moving up to challenge WBA secondary bantamweight world champion Antonio Vargas (18-1-1, 11 KOs) on June 13. However, Rodriguez is not giving up his super flyweight title belts, at least not right now, because he’s also leaving the door open to fight Japan’s undisputed junior featherweight king Naoya “Monster” Inoue (32-0, 27 KOs), who faces former IBF and WBC World Bantamweight Champion Junto “Big Bang” Nakatani (32-0, 24 KOs) on May 2^nd in Tokyo.

Where does that leave “Scrappy”?

Good question!

Wilbaldo Garcia Perez (23-6-2, 13 KOs) is the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight World Champion, but Ramirez isn’t rated among the top 15 by the IBF to be eligible to fight Perez, who is scheduled to defend his title on June 6 versus Andrew Maloney (28-4, 18 KOs).

The first time he was the No. 1 contender in the WBA, “Scrappy” accepted a fight with David Jimenez (18-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant WBA Interim Super Flyweight Championship. Ramirez simply wasn’t ready for that challenge. The more experienced Jimenez gave “Scrappy” the lone loss of his pro career in their title fight, back on April 20, 2024, by way of a 12-round unanimous decision. Jimenez, though, was committed to his April 20^th fight against Ayumu Sano (11-0-1, 5 KOs) that was recently canceled.  

A match versus future Hall of Famer Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (53-4, 42 KOs), the 5-time, 4-division world champion from Nicaragua, who is ranked No, 2 by the WBA, is certainly appealing to Rameriz, but the 38-year-old Gonzalez has only fought once in each of the past two years.

Slim pickings are left for Ramirez, who understands the need for his continued patience.

“It’s not an easy task,” Ramirez admitted. “All of these questions will be answered in time. I can’t fight the unknown. I’ll keep training hard, eating right, and surrounding myself with good people. I’m grateful to my promoter, Golden Boy, for giving me the right opportunities, as well as my manager (David Shu, 3 Point Management), who has gotten me the best fights available since I turned pro . And, of course, my trainer, Julian Chua, who I see more of than anybody in my life. I see him every day and he’s sacrificed so much for me. Remember, he doesn’t get paid unless I fight. Boxing is his life and I’m so lucky to have somebody all-in like Coach, who cares so much about all his fighters. This is the life I chose and I’m really enjoying it.”

Ramirez, 29, last fought this past January 16^th, in which he won a 10-round decision over Byron Rojas (29-5-3, 12 KOs).

? 

“Scrappy” is managed by 3 Point Management (3 PM), which has a growing stable of gifted boxers including WBA & WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (48-1, 30 KOs), WBA No. 1-rated world super flyweight title contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez (14-1, 9 KOs), former WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk (21-3, 17 KOs), former WBA Inter-Continental Light Heavyweight Champion, WBA No. 5-rated super middleweight Darius Fulghum (14-1-1, 12 KOs), Canadian Kareem “Supreme” Hackett (13-1, 7 KOs), Armenian featherweight Azat “Crazy A” Hovhannisyan (23-6, 17 Kos), and German junior welterweight Simon “Saucy” Vollmer (7-0, 3 KOs).

INFORMATION:

Website: www.3pointmanagement.com

Facebook: #JohnRamirez #JulianChua #BrickhouseBoxingClub

Instagram: @Scrappyboxing @3pointmanagement @BrickhouseBoxingClub @Julian_Chua

X: @Scrappyboxin @JChua10

LAS VEGAS, NV (April 17, 2026) – Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez will challenge Antonio Vargas for the WBC World Bantamweight title at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday June 13, exclusively live worldwide on DAZN.

Rodriguez (23-0 16 KOs) is gunning to become a three-weight World champion in

Arizona and does so in a venue that holds happy memories for the Texas star, with Bam unifying the Flyweight division with a stunning stoppage win over Sunny Edwards in December 2023. The 26 year old had already enjoyed huge success in the state, with his first World title win coming at the Footprint Center in Phoenix in February 2022 when he defeated Carlos Cuadras to become Super-Flyweight king and returned to the same venue in June 2024 to stop Juan Francisco Estrada to become the WBC and The Ring champion at Super-Flyweight.

That win over Estrada was the first of a run of four big wins inside the distance for Bam, destroying Pedro Guevara in Philadelphia to retain the WBC and The Ring titles in November 2024, then stopping Phumelele Cafu in Frisco, Texas in July to add the South African’s WBO title to his collection, before claiming another strap at 115lbs in Saudi Arabia in November with another spectacular win over WBA champion Fernando Martinez.

Vargas (19-1-1 11 KOs) is the man standing in the way of Bam’s quest for more history in the desert, and the 29 year old can catapult himself into the elite if he can become the first man to beat Bam.

The Florida-based Texan has been elevated to full WBA champion for the second time, having previously landed the interim title in December 2024 against Winston Guererra in Florida and being elevated before defending the strap in Japan against Daigo Higa in July, with their back-and-forth humdinger ending in a draw. Vargas became champion in recess after a fight with former champion Seiya Tsutsumi was postponed for a third time, but the Japanese has now been placed into the same position after being unable to face Vargas at the fourth attempt, and Vargas now elevated once again.

“New weight class, same goals – dominate and pick up all the belts,” said Rodriguez. “On June 13, I look forward to becoming a three-division World Champion.”

“Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and

that’s exactly why I took this fight,” said Vargas. “These are the moments champions live for. I respect his skill, his IQ, everything he brings to the ring. I look forward to defending my WBA World title and I’m ready to prove that I’m one of the best fighters in my weight class.

“I’ve worked my entire life to become a World champion, and I’m going to defend it with everything I have. I’m focused, I’m prepared, and everyone is going to see the best version of myself. But most of all I fight to glorify Jesus Christ”

“This is another fantastic fight for the best schedule in the sport,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “We were delighted to announce earlier the extension to our long-term deal with Jesse, and yet again, he has chosen to reach out for greatness and become a three-weight World champion, which would be an incredible achievement at just 26 years of age.

“Antonio is a very talented fighter and has been waiting for a big fight to prove it – and there are few bigger challenges in the sport than taking on Bam. Every time we do a show in and around Phoenix there’s always fireworks, and fans can expect nothing less on June 13.”

Announcements on the undercard and ticket on sale dates will be made in due course.

By Norm Frauenheim

Marinate, a promotional euphemism for momentum, is either another tiring tease, or an early way to test public interest, or a little bit of both in a recipe that leaves hungry fans wanting but never getting.

The current example: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez-versus-Naoya Inoue.

There’s more talk than ever, perhaps because of Junto Nakatani’s disappointing decision over Sebastian Hernandez last month in what was supposed to be a convincing steppingstone to Nakatani-Inoue.

Nakatani was left with a bruised right eye and perhaps a bruised resume, yet he survived, still unbeaten for a fight long planned to be the biggest in Japanese history. According to multiple reports — one from Boxing Scene this week and another from the World Boxing Council, the long-planned bout is projected to be on May 2, a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Tokyo.

News of the projected date was also accompanied by a poll conducted by The Ring. Who would you rather see, Nakatani-Inoue or Rodriguez-Inoue?

The timely question was prompted by Nakatani’s problematic performance Nov. 22 in the former bantamweight champion’s first fight at 122 pounds.

Fans, never a patient demographic, apparently have seen enough. Already, it looks as if they’re ready to cast aside Nakatani-Inoue for Rodriguez-Inoue. Seventy-three percent would prefer Bam in the ring against the feared Inoue instead of Nakatani.

The poll, like all polls, could mean just about anything. It also might be unfair to Nakatani, an accomplished fighter who struggled at a new weight against a dangerous foe virtually unknown outside of Mexico. It happens.

It also gives Nakatani more to prove, perhaps enough to make him more dangerous to Inoue than ever. Lessons delivered, lessons learned. That happens, too.

Still, surprising questions are there, left in the wake of his controversial victory. Left there, too, is an affirmation of the emerging interest in Bam, whose move up the pound-for-pound ratings has put the San Antonio fighter among the top five, consistently behind only Inoue and heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk.

Although hard to judge, a poll is one possible ingredient in a fight that might do more than just marinate. Maybe, it resonates. Maybe, it happens. Let’s say that Inoue beats Nakatani as decisively as he has beaten so many others. Then, there could still be questions about his claim – lifelong ambition — on pound-for-pound supremacy. Answers might be there only in a date with Bam.

For now, at least, there are already betting odds on Bam-Inoue, still marinating in the public imagination. Inoue is a solid favorite, minus 550.

In the collective mind of many fans, however, the odds of the fight ever happening are longer. Quit talking about it, they say. It’s a waste of time, they say, because the size difference is too big. Bam is a unified Super-Fly champion, fighting at 115-pounds, seven fewer than Inoue, undisputed at junior-feather (122).

But consider this: The 5-foot-4 Bam and 5-5 Inoue both started at the same weight, junior-flyweight, 108 pounds. The “Bam-is-too-small-for-Inoue” argument sounds a lot like “Inoue is too small for Nonito Donaire.’’

The “too small” Inoue beat Donaire, scoring a unanimous decision, at 120 pounds, in the 2019 Fight of the Year. In 2022, he backed it up, scoring a second-round stoppage of Donaire.

The more significant difference is in that other seven – the years that separate them in age. Bam will be 26 on January 20; Inoue will be 33 on April 10.

The pressure builds with every second on that unforgiving clock, especially for Inoue. It’s no secret that smaller fighters have careers shorter than those in the heavier divisions. Through interpreters, he has hinted at retirement in 2027.

That’s next year, which means the Bam-Inoue marination could be at full boil in about six months.      

David Benavidez retained the WBC Light Heavyweight title with seventh round stoppage over Anthony Yarde at the ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In round seven, Yarde began to bleed from his mouth and nose. Late in the round the pressure of Benavidez took over as he scored a knockdown from a non stop flurry of punches. Benavidez finished off Yarde when he continued he ferocious assault that was capped off by two left hooks on the chin and the fight was stopped at 1:59.

Benavidez, 174.3 lbs of Phoenix is 31-0 with 25 knockouts. Yarde, 173.9 lbs of London is 27-4.

Haney Drops, Decisions Norman; Wins Welterweight Title

Devin Haney became a three-division world champion as he won the WBO Welterweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Brian Norman Jr.

In round two, Haney dropped Norman with a hard left hook to the head that was followed by a crushing right.

Haney, 146.6 lbs of Miami won by scores of 117-110, 116-111 and 114-113 and is now 33-0. Norman, 146.12 lbs of Decatur, GA is 28-1.

Jesse Rodriguez Knocks Out Fernando Martinez To Unify 115 Lb. Title

Jesse Rodriguez is now the WBA/WBC/WBO 115-pound champion with a 10th round stoppage over Fernando Martinez.

In round 10, Rodriguez landed a perfect left counter on the jaw that sent Martinez down for the count at 1:27.

Rodriguez, 114.6 lbs of San Antonio is now 23-0 with 16 knockouts. Martinez, 113.2 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 18-1.

Mason Decisions Noakes to Win Vacant WBO Lightweight title

In a terrific back and forth brawl, Abdullah Mason won the vacant WBO Lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Sam Noakes

In round three, Noakes began to bleed around the left eye due to a clash of heads. In round four, Mason was cut under the right eye.

Mason, 134 lbs of Cleveland won by scores of 117-111 and 115-113 twice and is now 17-0.. Noakes, 134.9 lbs of Kent, ENG is 17-1.

At 21, Mason is now the youngest world champion.

Mielnicki Jr. Stops Nmomah in 9

Vito Mielnicki Jr. stopped Samuel Nmomah in round nine of their 10-round middleweight bout.

In round nine, Mielnicki landed a perfect counter right that hurt Nmomah. Mielnicki followed that up with a flurry that was punctuated with a left that put Nmomah hard on the canvas and the fight was stopped at 3:09.

Mielnicki, 159.1 lbs of Roseland, NJ is 22-1 with 13 knockouts. Nmomah, 159.6 lbs of Lagos, NIG is 21-1.

Mohammed Alakel remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Jiaming Li in a junior lightweight bout.

In round five, Alakel dropped Li at the end of the frame with a perfect counter right to the head.

Alakel, 131.6 lbs of Riyadh, SA won by scores of 60-53 on all cards and is now 7-0. Li, 132.4 lbs of Zho Hi, CHN is 7-6.

Julio Porras and Pius Mpenda fought to a six-round draw in a super middleweight bout

All three cards read even at 57-57.

Porras, 167.9 lbs of Sonora, MEX is 13-0-1. Mpenda, 166.12 lbs of Tanzania is 11-4-2.

In round five, Porras began to bleed from his nose.

Mohammad Alohammad stopped Umash Chavan in the opening round of their four-round junior lightweight bout

Alomohammed dominated and landed a flurry in the corner that forced Chavan to turn his back and the fight was stopped at 2:05.

Alomahammed, 129 lbs of Riyadh is now 2-0 with one stoppage. Chavan, 129.9 lbs of Mapusa, IND is 3-2.

Juan El Guerito De Pito made a successful pro debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Barker Sswanyama in a bantamweight fight.

In round four, Ssewanyana was deducted a point for holding.

The 16-year-old De Pita, 116.9 lbs of Mexico City won by scores of 40-35 on all cards and is 1-0. Sswanyama, 115.3 lbs of Uganda is 1-2-1.

By Norm Frauenheim

Jesse Rodriguez stands out for what he doesn’t do in a business otherwise full of gasbags and so-called influencers who pontificate more than punch.

Bam, a nickname, is the loudest thing about Rodriguez, a fighter as business-like as he is quiet. But don’t mistake the silence. Call him soft-spoken at your own peril. Many have, and all have been left senseless, if not speechless.

Rodriguez owns boxing’s proverbial bully pulpit, dominating with relentless pressure and precise punching. At ringside, there’s an old line about volume punching. That volume is how Rodriguez expresses himself. He turns it up — loud and lethal, then turns it down – clever and calculated – with a maestro’s sense of tempo that often ends in a beat down.

He answered Sunny Edwards’ trash-talking, unsupported allegations about PEDs with a punishing stoppage. A couple of fights later, Edwards retired, saying he no longer had the will to fight on. In response to the taunts, Rodriguez beat it out of him in a way only he could deliver.

After Edwards, he got up from a knockdown for a brutally efficient stoppage of accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada June, 2024 in Phoenix. Estrada waived a rematch clause, which was his way of saying a second chance offered no chance.  He has fought only once since then.

Quiet, but impossible to ignore, an unfolding run to the top of a contentious game continues, this time in Riyadh Saturday when the 25-year-old Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) attempts to add another piece to his Super Fly crown against Fernando Daniel Martinez, a 34-year-old Buenos Aires fighter, also unbeaten (18-0, 9 KOs).

Predictably, perhaps, the emerging Rodriguez has been getting less attention than anybody else on the Saudi card. It’s been built around David Benavidez and his aspirations to become the so-called next face of the game. For now, it all depends on if the Phoenix-born-and-forged fighter prevails in a light-heavyweight title defense against London’s Anthony Yarde.

Then, there’s Devin Haney in a fight to reassert himself and his place against welterweight belt-holder Brian Norman

Jr. on boxing’s developing marquee for 2026.

Rodriguez hasn’t exactly been ignored. But he goes into Saturday’s bout with credentials that neither Benavidez nor Haney has. In every pound-for-pound rating, he ranks higher. Only on the scale is he smaller. In any other world, he’s a main-event fighter, capable of drawing crowds of 10-to-12,000 in Phoenix or San Antonio, his hometown.

In Riyadh, he’s on the DAZN undercard, the second prelim on the four-fight live-stream topped by Benavidez-Yarde.

It’s reasonable to argue that an emerging pound-for-pound contender on an undercard isn’t good for the overall business. Why not Phoenix, or San Antonio, or any other city in the Southwest? Fans there have been left behind, almost forgotten. Forget them, and eventually nobody gets paid.

It’s a complaint that this corner in Arizona hears with mounting frequency. But it’s not one you’ll hear from Rodriguez, still quiet and ever stoic. He’s there for the Saudi money. It’s huge and it comes at an important time in Rodriguez’ life.

Rodriguez, already the father of an 18-month-old daughter, is expecting a son. He missed media workouts Wednesday in Riyadh. Instead, he monitored social media, an anxious dad awaiting his son’s birth on the other side of the world.

“We knew that our fight was gonna end up a day after his birth, so I was telling my girlfriend (Rebecca) to hold him as long as she can,’’ Rodriguez told SunSport in Riyadh. “But just before I came over here, they had mentioned that he might be born either tonight (Wednesday) or tomorrow (Thursday). This is all for them at the end of the day.’’

Motivation to fight, he went on to say, was now rooted in the need to provide for a growing family.

“I have to put food on their plates and toys in their playpen,’’ he said, a quiet man saying it all.

By Norm Frauenheim

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’ rocket-like rise in the pound-for-pound debate and overall name recognition comes with a lot of risk, including the inevitable temptation to look too far ahead.

Actually, it’s not even a temptation anymore. It happened in Rodriguez’ last fight. Saudi Prince and Promoter Turki Alalshikh signed and announced his next fight before he had even answered the opening bell before his last one.

News of Rodriguez’ title unification date against dangerous Argentine Fernando Martinez Nov. 2 in Riyadh was all over social media in July long before Rodriguez took care of business, scoring a 10^th-round stoppage of South African Phumelela Cafu in Frisco, TX. Bam, he’s reliable, too.

But here’s the caveat: History is littered with examples of young fighters thinking more about what’s next instead of looking out for the incoming power punch thrown in the here-and-now. It’s a trap. Yet, it’s one that Rodriguez, mature beyond his 25 years, understands with a quiet, almost unnerving poise. The future is a feint. Rodriguez, already among the top five in several pound-for-pound rankings, hasn’t been fooled by it.

Yet, it’s here, all over again, this time in news that Junto Nakatani is expected to vacate his bantamweight titles, the 118-pound International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council belts. Boxing Scene reports that Nakatani will announce his move up to junior-featherweight in a recording for WOWOW’s Excite Match SP series early next week.

The move opens the door for Rodriguez, already a champion at flyweight and super-fly, to win a third division title. First, however, he has to add a third piece of the super-fly title against Martinez to the growing collection of hardware draped across his shoulders. By all accounts, he’s a huge favorite, minus-1000, according to Fan Duel.

The expectation – and Bam has fulfilled them all so far – suggests that that he would move up, perhaps pursue one of the two belts vacated by Nakatani or one of the two held by the other two champions. Antonio Vargas is the World Boxing Association’s version and Yoshiki Takei the World Boxing Organization’s.

Nakatani’s expected decision to move up the scale isn’t a surprise. The top-10 pound-for-pound fighter had been calling out Bam before a stoppage of Ryosuke Nishida June 8 in Tokyo. Then, however, there was silence about Bam from the Japanese fighter who trains in Southern California.

There had been various reports that Bam and Nakatani had agreed to fight. But the reported possibility was quashed by Akihiko Honda, the powerful “Mister Honda” of Teiken Promotions.

The long-range plan has always been an all-Japanese showdown between Nakatani and super-star Naoya Inoue, ranked alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford among the top three in the current pound-for-pound debate. Inoue faces a challenging date in Murodjon Akhmadaliev for Inoue’s undisputed 122-pound belt Sept. 14 in Tokyo.

Then, there are reported plans for Inoue to keep sharp in a stay-busy fight against Mexican Alan David Picasso in December before a long-anticipated showdown against Nakatani next year.

According to sources in Japanese media, Mister Honda didn’t want a Nakatani-Bam fight to get in the way – perhaps risk – Inoue-Nakatani, a fight projected to break revenue records in Japan. It makes sense.

The timing of Nakatani’s move up would allow him a fight or perhaps two to get familiar with the new weight.

Meanwhile, it would allow Rodriguez to further his own reputation and perhaps move ever closer to his own shot at Inoue in a bout that is climbing up the list of “dream fights” as quickly as Bam is moving up the pound-for-pound ratings.

Oscar Valdez going home

Former two-division champion Oscar Valdez Jr. (32-3, 24 KOs) is going back to where it all started. Top Rank announced he’ll face Ricky Medina (16-3, 9 KOs) Sept. 6 in his hometown, Nogales, on the Mexican side of the border it shares with Arizona.

It’ll be the first time Valdez, an ex-champ at featherweight and junior-lightweight, will fight as a pro in the Sonoran city where he was born.

Valdez is fighting for the first time since a punishing loss to Emanuel Navarrete in a rematch last December in Phoenix. Before and after the loss, there was talk that Valdez would retire. But former Mexican Olympian, known for his no-quit mentality, has decided to fight on.

“Oscar Valdez is a proud warrior, and this is a great opportunity for him to return home and prove he still has what it takes to contend at 130 pounds,” Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum said. “Oscar has been with Top Rank since he turned pro, and we are in his corner as he attempts to become a three-time world champion.”

By Norm Frauenheim

Yesterday, today and tomorrow played out on a three-sided weekend last Saturday that summed up what boxing has been, is now and might soon become.

Manny Pacquiao brought the golden-oldie nostalgia. Oleksandr Usyk re-asserted himself as the best of this era and maybe a few others. And Jesse Rodriguez provided another preview at what could be next.

It’s hard to say just who made the biggest statement. Pacquiao’s enduring celebrity dominated the headlines and perhaps contributed to some of the frustration over the scorecards for his majority draw with Mario Barrios, who retained his welterweight title with a second successive draw. Maybe, there’s been some erosion in the 46-year-old Filipino’s skillset, but his likability is intact, as powerful as ever.

“Manny, Manny’’ chants filled the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena like a memorable lyric from an old pop song. I’m not sure he’ll ever be a welterweight champion again, but he’ll always be remembered more than the collection of forgettables among today’s belt-holders.

Pacquiao, who talked about a rematch with Barrios and already is mentioned as a possible challenger for Rolly Romero’s belt, reminds us of what we miss. There’s a huge risk there. He could get hurt. But he’ll fight on, and a Pied Piper-like crowd is sure to follow.

Pacquiao’s immense popularity is matched by what Usyk has in terms of respect for his discipline and smarts. He’s an undisputed heavyweight champion all over again with his stoppage of Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium.

It’s not exactly clear what undisputed means anymore. Acronyms get in the way with so-called mandatories and hollow threats to strip. Already, the World Boxing Organization is ordering Usyk to defend its piece of the heavyweight puzzle against Joseph Parker. 

Usyk hasn’t replied and doesn’t have to, of course. It’d be nice if these self-proclaimed ruling bodies quit issuing orders and just showed Usyk some mandatory respect. He’s a great champion, whose unbeaten record over 24 bouts is notable for what it doesn’t include. He’s never had a pro fight in his home country, war-torn Ukraine. Yet, he fights on, winning with an unerring instinct. To wit: He knows what he’s doing.

The stoppage of Dubois in a rematch has generated a lot of talk about how he would have done against the all-time greats in boxing’s fabled division. Even Muhammad Ali’s name has been dropped into the conversation. Who knows? It’s a fun argument, but it’s impossible to compare fighters from different generations.

I’m not even sure he’s the greatest Ukrainian heavyweight ever. Shouldn’t Wladimir Klitschko and brother Vitali Klitschko, now the major of Kyiv, be included in the conversation? I’m sure Usyk himself would mention them. Then again, Usyk knows something about respect for history, Ukrainian and boxing.

It’s not exactly clear what Usyk does next. Parker is an okay fight, but it doesn’t bring anybody to the edge of their seat or to a live-stream audience. At 38 – 39 in January, Usyk will be exiting his prime, a stage that Pacquiao left long ago.

In terms of prime time during last week’s triple-header, there was only Rodriguez, a poised and master tactician who continued to fulfill everything it means to be Super Fly by unifying the 115-pound belt with a 10^th-round stoppage of Phumelele Cafu in Frisco, Texas.

Rodriguez’ victory got less attention than Pacquiao and Usyk, but at one level it was the most significant bout of the three.

At 25, Rodriguez is 21 years younger than Pacquiao, 13 years younger than Usyk. Pacquiao and Usyk are moving on. So, too, is the way we watch boxing. ESPN is leaving ringside with its last Top Rank show Saturday featuring unbeaten Puerto Rican junior-middleweight Xander Zayas against Mexican Jorge Garcia in New York at The Theater in Madison Square Garden.

How we watch, who we watch is about to change.

Enter Bam, a nickname that Rodriguez manages to fulfill nearly every time he answers an opening bell. To be fair, it was hard to judge the Cafu victory. Cafu, a South African, was fighting in the United States for the first time after scoring a notable upset of Kosei Tanaka in Japan for a belt last October.

The circumstances dictated that Rodriguez do more than just win. He had to be brilliant. He was, delivering a methodical beatdown that led to a 10^th-round knockout at Ford Center on the Dallas Cowboys complex.

Short-term, it set up what had already been announced – Bam in a bid for a third Super Fly belt against Fernando Martinez Nov. 22 in Riyadh on a card that includes Phoenix-born David Benavidez in a light-heavyweight defense against Anthony Yarde.

Long-term, it puts Rodriguez a little bit closer to what has been a dream fight for a couple of years. On the pound-for-pound ratings, Rodriguez’ last victory put him within talking – if not striking – distance of Japanese star Naoya Inoue, the current junior-featherweight champion who is a consensus No. 2, second to Usyk.

Rodriguez, who jumped into the pound-for-pound debate with a stoppage last June of accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada in downtown Phoenix on the Suns home floor, is a consensus No. 5 in ratings released this week.

Bam’s victory over Cafu prompted his promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, to put him at No. 2, ahead of Inoue, who is not among Hearn’s favorites. He’s ripped Inoue for a resume that – Hearn says – includes weak opposition. His criticism of Inoue might have helped land Inoue’s next opponent, Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Sept. 14 in Nagoya, Japan.

It’s no coincidence that Hearn also represents Akhmadaliev. It’s also no coincidence that Hearn publicly ranks Bam ahead of Inoue. Some early negotiations – opening salvos — have already begun.

A lot still has to fall into place if in fact Bam-versus-Inoue has any chance at ever happening. Inoue is projected to fight Mexican Alan David Picasso, perhaps in December.

Then, there’s Junto Nakatani, a unified bantamweight champion living and training in southern California. Just a couple of months ago, Nakatani had been calling out Bam. But that talk ended, abruptly, after Nakatani stopped Ryosuke Nishida June 8 in Tokyo.

Nakatani-versus-Inoue has been at the top of the want-to-see list for Japanese fans. It’s also at the top of fights most wanted by Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda, known simply as Mr. Honda.

Multiple sources in Japanese media and boxing circles told The Boxing Hour that Mr. Honda told Nakatani to forget about a fight with Bam any time soon. The reasoning is as clear as it is solid. Mr. Honda doesn’t want to risk Nakatani-Inoue, a fight expected to generate record receipts in Japan. In part, that’s an acknowledgement of just how dangerous – how good – Bam is.

The path is still there, if Inoue beats Akhmadaliev, Picasso and then Nakatani. There are doubts he can, in part because of the way he was knocked down by little-known Ramon Cardenas in Las Vegas May 4.

Cardenas floored him in the second round. Inoue went on to win by TKO in the eighth. But there’s talk that Inoue would not have been able to get up if the knock-down punch had been delivered by Nakatani, who’s noted for his power.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez has to beat Martinez and then continue to win as he moves up the scale, first to 118 pounds and then 122.

A lot still has to happen. Last Saturday, a lot did.

NOTES

Thanks to emerging Mesa, AZ junior-welterweight Trini Ochoa (21-0, 9 KOs) for helping kids get ready for school while also helping the old-school boxing gym, Central, in downtown Phoenix (1755 West Van Buren Street) Saturday. Ochoa there (9 am to noon) to sign autographs, pose for pictures, pass out school supplies and help the famed gym raise funds for repairs to fix some vandalism on a mural, a west-facing wall covered with faces and memories from Arizona’s rich boxing history

Jesse Rodriguez retained the WBC/WBO Super Flyweight title with a 10th round stoppage over Phumelele Cafu at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Rodriguez dominated the fight against the rugged challenger. In round 10, Rodriguez landed a right hook that hurt Cafu. Rodriguez followed up on the challenger with a flurry of punches that wobbled Cafu. Cafu tackled Rodriguez and both fighters fell to the canvas. When Cafu got up, his corner waved the towel at 2:07.

Rodriguez, 1148. lbs from San Antonio is 22-0 with 15 knockouts. Cafu, 115 lbs of Eastern Cape, SA is 11-1-3.

Rodriguez will fight a unification bout with Fernando Martinez on November 22nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Pacheco Decisions McCumby

Diego Pacheco remained undefeated with a 12-round unanimous decision over nTrevor McCumby in a super middleweight bout.

In round two ,McCumby was cut on his forehead between his eyes from an accidental headbutt.

Pacheco, 168 lbs of South Central Los Angeles won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice and is now 24-0. McCumby, 168 lbs of Glendale, AZ is 28-2.

Ammo Williams Stops Ivan Vazquez in 9

Austin Williams stopped late-replacement Ivan Vazquez in round nine of their scheduled 10-round middleweight bout.

In round three, Williams was deducted a point for a low blow.

In round nine, Williams landed a hard body flurry that put Vazquez down. When Vazquez got to his feet, he told the referee that he did not want anymore and the fight was called at 36 seconds.

Williams, 158.4 of Houston is now 19-1 with 13 knockouts. Vazquez, 159.6 lbs of Houston is 11-1-2.

Omari Jones Stops Blanco in 3

Omari Jones stopped Alfredo Rodolfo Banco in a scheduled six-round junior middleweight bout.

Just before the bell sounded to end round two, Jones landed a check left hook that put Blanco on the canvas, In round three, Jones dropped Blanco with a body shot and the fight was stopped at 1:31.

Jones, 149.4 lbs of Orlando is 3-0 with three knockouts. Blanco, 150.2 lbs of Buenos Aires, ARG is 24-15.

Hector Beltran Jr. took out Edgar Gutierrez in round three of a scheduled four-round junior middleweight bout.

Beltran dominated the action and in round three, Beltran landed a big flurry of punches that forced a referee stoppage at 2:35.

Beltran Jr., 154 lbs of Dallas is 3-0 with three knockouts. Gutierrez, 153.4 lbs of Yuma, AZ is 3-4.

Nshant Dev stopped LaQuan Evans in the sixth and final round of their junior middleweight bout.

In round six, Dev landed two hard lefts on Evans and the body language of Evans looked as he was in trouble and the bout was stopped at 1:58.

Dev, 155.8 lbs of Karmal, IND is 3-0 with two knockouts. Evans, 156.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 5-6.

Pablo Valdez remained undefeated with a third round stoppage over Robert Redmond Jr. in a junior middleweight bout.

In round three, Valdez dropped Redmond with a short right hand. Seconds later, it was a bigger right hand that put Redmond down again, and the fight was stopped at 1:00.

Valdez, 156 lbs of New York is 10-0 with nine knockouts. Redmond, 154.2 lbs of Houston is 8-3-2.

Coming off a blockbuster weekend in New York City, DAZN, the world’s leading sports and entertainment platform, is continuing its action-packed summer of boxing this week with a doubleheader of championship contests, including a clash of the titans for the undisputed heavyweight championship from London. The fights never stop on DAZN, with over 185 coming to fans this year from the world’s top promoters. 

WBA, WBC, and WBO Champion Oleksandr Usyk steps back into the ring against IBF titleholder Daniel Dubois this Saturday, July 19 in London’s Wembley Stadium live exclusively on DAZN PPV. It is a rematch from their 2023 encounter that saw Usyk win by stoppage in round 9. That bout was not without controversy, as Dubois still claims that his 5th round low blow was a legal punch, which the referee allowed Usyk nearly 4 minutes to recover from. 

Following Usyk – Dubois,  eyes will turn back to the United States for a super-flyweight unification fight with WBC beltholder Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (21-0) returning to his home state of Texas to take on South Africa’s WBO champion Phumelele Cafu (11-0-3) beginning at 7pm ET.

Below, please find a schedule of all the media activities happening in London this week that viewers can find on DAZN:

• Wednesday, July 16, 11 AM ET: Open Workout Livestream
• Thursday, July 17, 8 AM ET: Press Conference Livestream
• Friday, July 18, 10 AM ET: Weigh-In Livestream
• July, 19, 12:30 PM ET: DAZN Broadcast begins

SOCIAL

• Oleksandr Usyk’s INTENSE training camp in Spain | DAZN On the Ground
• Daniel Dubois wants revenge! DAZN On the Ground
• “I love my British opponents” | Oleksandr Usyk interview with Carl Frampton
• I Know I Can Do It Again! | Daniel Dubois Interview With Carl Frampton
• Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 | The Debate
• Rob Beckett steps into the ring with Daniel Dubois, what could possibly go wrong? 
• The mind games have begun. 
•  What factors will determine the outcome of Usyk vs. Dubois 2? Let’s look at the numbers via @rtfight_com
• ?????? ????? ?? with @dynamite_daniel_dubois 

Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams can take a massive step towards his World title dreams as he takes on Etinosa Oliha in a final eliminator for the IBF World Middleweight title at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Dallas on Saturday July 19 – part of the undercard for the unification blockbuster between WBC and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and WBO ruler Phumelele Cafu, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS FOR BAM VS. CAFU ARE ON SALE NOW VIA SEATGEEK.COM

Williams (18-1 10 KOs) has moved into #6 spot with the IBF after picking up back-to-back wins over Gian Garrido in Philadelphia in November before headlining in Florida and seeing off Patrice Volny in March. ‘Ammo’ used those wins to bounce back from a spirited loss to Hamzah Sheeraz in Saudi Arabia a year ago and now faces the IBF #1 contender with a World title shot within reach.

Oliha (21-0 9 KOs) has climbed seamlessly into the top spot with the IBF and the Italian now takes on the biggest fight of his seven-year career on his American debut. The unbeaten 26 year old operated exclusively on home turf in the first 16 fights of his career but has won his last five fights on the spin in Germany to move into the lofty position he aims to protect in the Lone Star State.

“One year ago, I found myself in the darkest space of my life, losing beloved family members, followed by suffering my first defeat as a professional pugilist,” said Williams.

“Three fights later, I find myself in position to become the #1 Middleweight in the world once again.

“This time around, everything is aligned. I have proven to myself that I am a true champion, before I have the World Championship belt around my waste. July 19 we are bringing it back to my roots, Texas, where it all began. Relentless, unwavering, educated pressure will be exerted on my opponent until I completely break him, sending him back to Italy a changed man. This fight will not go the distance.”

“I’m very motivated and looking forward to July 19,” said Oliha. “Austin Williams is the last step before a World title shot. I am very confident that I will take this chance.”

Arturo Cardenas moves down to Bantamweight on July 19, and he takes on Dominique ‘Dimes’ Crowder for the WBC Continental Americas and WBA Continental North Americas titles. Cardenas (16-0-1 9 KOs) drops to 118lbs after a fine run at Super-Bantamweight, where the 24 year old recently held the WBC Continental Americas title, and will be looking to make an immediate impact on the World rankings at his new weight by seeing off his toughest test to date in Crowder.

Former amateur star Crowder (18-0 11 KOs) has cruised to 18-0 in the paid ranks, and the two-time New York Golden Gloves champion now looks to shift into title contention on his biggest stage to date and land his first pro titles in Frisco.

“I’m thrilled to add two more brilliant fights added to what promises to be a massive night of action in Frisco,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Ammo has bounced back brilliantly to get himself into this position, and this is now the biggest night of his career against the very dangerous Oliha – with the winner lining up a shot at World title glory.

“Arturo’s clash with Dominique is a cracker, with the Mexican talent looking to excel at a lower weight, while ‘Dimes’ gets the big stage he’s been craving to turn that amateur pedigree into success in the paid ranks.

“With pound-for-pound star Bam in another unification battle, Diego Pacheco looking to underline his World title credentials and Team USA’s Olympic bronze medal man Omari Jones back in action, July 19 will be a memorable night.”

Ammo vs. Oliha and Cardenas vs. Crowder join a stacked night of action in Frisco, topped by Bam’s battle with Cafu.

Unbeaten Super-Middleweight sensation Diego Pacheco defends his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Trevor McCumby, while Team USA’s Olympic bronze medal man Omari Jones fights for the third time in the paid ranks, taking on Alfredo Blanco over six rounds.

Jesse Rodriguez wants to become the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport – and believes that starts by winning his unification showdown with Phumelele Cafu for the WBC, WBO and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight titles at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Saturday July 19, live worldwide on DAZN.

TICKETS FOR BAM VS. CAFU ARE ON SALE NOW VIA SEATGEEK.COM

Rodriguez (21-0 14 KOs) is looking to unify at Super-Flyweight having done so at Flyweight in spectacular fashion against Sunny Edwards in Arizona in December 2023, following that win by collecting the belts he puts on the line against unbeaten South African Cafu (11-0-3 8 KOs) with a stunning KO win over Juan Francisco Estrada in the same state last June to become a two-time Super-Flyweight ruler.

The San Antonio ace fights in his home state for the first time since he became a two-weight World champion April 2023 when he collected the vacant WBO Flyweight strap, and has fought at the Ford Center before, moving to 11-0 there in February 2020.

‘Bam’ has certainly shot to superstardom since that night, but the ambitious 25 year old has more targets in mind, starting with unifying once again on July 19 and looking to become undisputed and climb to the top the list of the best fighters on the planet.

“I would love to be number one pound-for-pound,” said Rodriguez. “There’s a lot of bragging rights being there, and I feel that I can go so far forward from where I am currently at.
 
“I’m never satisfied, there’s always more to gain and win, so I can go ten times higher from here. I would love to go undisputed, so that’s two more fights at 115lbs, so we’ll see how it pans out.
 
“It’s bad ass seeing the smaller weights shine. When I was an amateur, it was Chocolatito that was doing it and I was like ‘Damn, this is cool,’ so for me to be in the same position, it means a lot. 
 
“I’m so happy to be fighting in Dallas, it’s great to fight back in my home state, I’m happy to be back home.”
 
Rodriguez’s clash with Cafu tops a stacked card in Frisco, with the chief support bout of the evening pitting the explosive and unbeaten Diego Pacheco defending his USWBC and WBO International Super-Middleweight titles against Trevor McCumby, while Team USA’s Olympic bronze medal man Omari Jones fights for the third time in the paid ranks, taking on Alfredo Blanco over six rounds, with much more action to be added to the card in due course.

By Norm Frauenheim

Staying busy and staying relevant are a couple of fundamentals, both of which will be at the top of Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez agenda on a jammed July 19 when he re-acquaints himself with his Texas fans in a bid to further define himself as boxing’s only Super Fly in a 115-pound unification bout.

Rodriguez won’t exactly have the stage to himself. In a forever balkanized game further fractured by feast-or-famine scheduling, Rodriguez’ will be scrambling for attention on a day when heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk will defend his undisputed title in a rematch against Daniel Dubious at London’s Wembley Stadium and 46-year-old legend Manny Pacquiao will attempt another comeback in his first bout in four years against welterweight champion Mario Barrios in Vegas. 

The mid-summer triple-header is happening amid uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts of the much-hyped Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez spectacle,  which at last report is penciled in — keep your eraser at the ready — for September 13 instead of Sept. 12.

As of midday Friday, there was still no announcement of a new location, which originally had been the Raiders home field at Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. The silence is deafening. Also bewildering, unfair to fans and fighters. Then again, it’s also business as usual, which is to say it’s still a mess.

The good news is that none of it seems to bother the business-like Rodriguez, whose skillset includes just about everything other than distractions bought on by feuding promoters or social media’s trash-talk. 

Simply put: Bam does his job. He did it in a devastating response to non-stop taunts from Sunny Edwards, whom he put on the canvas in a defeated heap in a Phoenix suburb in December 2023. He did it again, this time in response to doubts about his youth and experience against accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada, whom he stopped with a tactical masterpiece last June, also in Phoenix. 

The victory over Estrada launched him into another category. It put him into the middle of the pound-for-pound debate, outside of the Naoya Inoue-Usyk-Crawford perch, yet still within striking distance. 

Staying there — as well as busy — is the task on July 19 when Rodriguez attempts to add the Word Boxing Organization’s 115-pound version of the title to his collection in Frisco TX, about 300 miles up I-35 from his home in San Antonio. 

Rodriguez is fighting somebody named Phumelela Cafu, a South African who will be fighting for the first time in the United States. 

Other than a stunning upset — a debatable split-decision over Kosei Tanaka last October in Japan for the WBO belt, the 30-year-old Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs) is unknown. That’s what makes him dangerous. That’s also why many will be watching Usyk-Dubois and Pacquiao-Barrios instead. But that’s also business, something Rodriguez (21-0,14 KOs) has also shown he understands.

Rodriguez is coming off a year when much of his momentum in the wake of his triumph over Estrada has stalled. It’s not his fault. But that, too, is business.

It started when Estrada decided not to enforce a rematch clause. He said he was moving up in weight. Truth is, it was more like moving away. Estrada simply didn’t want to fight Rodriguez again. 

It sent a message, first to Ramon Gonzalez, the best known name in the lightest divisions. Rodriguez’ management couldn’t talk Gonzalez into a fight.

Then, there’s Fernando Daniel Martinez, the World Boxing Association’s 115-pound champion. After Martinez took the WBA title from Kazuko Ioka with a unanimous decision in Japan a week after Bam stopped Estrada, there were reports that there were talks of a unification fight with the Argentine. 

Then, however, Estrada announced he didn’t want the rematch and Gonzalez declined to fight Rodriguez. Instead of Rodriguez, Martinez opted for a rematch with Ioka, which he won by another unanimous decision, again in Japan May 11.

There were other circumstances, still it’s beginning to look as if Rodriguez is a contender for Most Avoided, a title nobody wants. Ask Phoenix-born light heavyweight champion David Benavidez, who futilely chased Canelo Alvarez for years and now is hoping for a real shot at some validation of his World Boxing Council belt in a first defense against the Dmitrii Bivol-Artur Bivol 3 winner.

For Rodriguez, Martinez continues to loom as a possibility. But Benavidez, who was given the WBC belt when Bivol acceded to promotional demands and agreed to a third Beterbiev fight, looms as an example of what he and every other avoided fighter must do no matter what happens:

The job.

Rodriguez, who easily scored a stoppage of Pedro Guevara in support of a Jaron Ennis-featured card in Philadelphia in November, fights on, this time in search of a belt that might give him some leverage with promoters, networks and — above all — fans.

A year ago, there was talk of Rodriguez against Inoue, who is coming off a dramatic stoppage of another San Antonio fighter, Ramon Cardenas in Vegas May 4. Then, Bam-versus-The Monster was a Dream Fight. Still is, but the talk has subsided. 

Inoue, undisputed at junior-featherweight and facing a risky date against Murodjon Akhmadaliev Sept. 14 in Japan, is still talking about a move to featherweight, despite suffering an early knockdown against Cardenas at junior-feather. Inoue’s decision figures to be made by how he does against the dangerous Akhmadaliev.

Even then, however, an all-Japanese fight awaits, Inoue against bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, who has been training in Los Angeles for a 118-pound unification bout against Ryosuke Nishida June 8 in Tokyo. 

The good news for Rodriguez is that Nakatani continues to say he wants to fight Bam. Nakatani trainer Rudy Hernandez set the stage for one by calling out Bam this week during a media workout at LA Gym.

“Junto beats Bam, 100 percent, within six to eight rounds,’’ Hernandez told The Ring. “We’ll knock him out. I am confident about it, but that’s my opinion. It’s not personal.

“It’s business.’’

Bam’s business, too.

World rulers Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Richardson Hitchins face crunch clashes in the summer live worldwide on DAZN – as WBC and Ring Magazine king Bam faces WBO champion Phumelele Cafu in a blockbuster unification battle at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on July 19 and Hitchins makes the first defense of his IBF World Junior-Welterweight crown against former World ruler George Kambosos Jr at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 14.
 
Rodriguez (21-0 14 KOs) is back in action following a stellar 2024, where he followed his epic KO win over modern great Juan Francisco Estrada in a fight of the year contender in Phoenix in June to become a two-weight unified champion, and defended the titles for the first time in Philadelphia in November with a dominant three-round destruction of Pedro Guevara, and fights in his home state for the first time since he became a two-weight champion by beating Cristian Hernandez in his San Antonio hometown in April 2023.
 
Cafu (11-0-3 8 KOs) puts his belt on the line for the first time after taking the crown from Kosei Tanaka in Tokyo in October via split decision. ‘Truth’ now steps into one of the biggest fights in the game in just his second World championship bout, with the South African landing his belt in just his 14th pro-outing.
 
“I’m excited to finally step back into the ring,” said Rodriguez. “I cannot wait to fight in front of my home state fans. I’m looking forward to unifying in another weight division.
 
“I know Cafu is a tough opponent, but these kinds of fights bring out the best in me and I’ll be ready for whatever he brings. July 19th tune in and witness greatness.”
 
“This is awesome, man, because once again I get to step in with an elite fighter and prove the world wrong, showing people that I’m also an elite fighter,” said Cafu. “I’ve always wanted to fight him because people think he is the bogeyman of the division and say he is unbeatable, but I’ll prove to the people that no one is unbeatable. Beating him will put me on the pound-for-pound list, and I will be King of the division.”
 
“We’re proud to once again welcome the world of boxing to The Star in Frisco for what promises to be another unforgettable night,” said Stephen Jones, Chief Operating Officer, and Co-Owner of the Dallas Cowboys. “Hosting a fight of this magnitude between Bam Rodriguez and Phumelele Cafu reflects our continued commitment to bringing premier sporting events to our fans and community. We greatly value our ongoing partnership with Matchroom Boxing and are excited to help deliver another iconic event at The Star.”
 
The first undercard bout to be announced on the Bam-Cafu show is a big one, with the co-feature of the night pitting LA Super-Middleweight sensation Diego Pacheco faces Trevor McCumby.
 
Pacheco (23-0 18 KOs) is closing in on his first World title shot, and the #1 contender with the WBO will be aiming to add another scalp to his resume following an impressive showing in Las Vegas where he saw off Steven Nelson.
 
McCumby (28-1 21 KOs) will have other ideas though as the Arizonan looks to get back on track for a World title tilt of his own. The 32 year old floored former World ruler Caleb Plant in the fourth round of their clash in Las Vegas in September, but Plant would stop McCumby in the ninth round to claim the interim WBA strap.
 
“I’ve been working my entire life to get to this point in my career where im facing the best fighters in the world,” said Pacheco. “Ahora si ya empezó lo bueno y venimos con todo y por todo.”
 
“I’m very excited to be back,” said McCumby. “There’s a lot of hype behind my opponent, that I will put to rest. The world hasn’t seen the best Trevor McCumby and I plan show them come fight night #Tenacious.”
 
Hitchins (19-0 7 KOs) returns home to New York for the first defense of the title that he won with a clinical performance against Australian Liam Paro in Puerto Rico in December. The unbeaten 27 year old is back in the Big Apple for the first time since February 2023 where he dominated John Bauza, with his last two wins seeing his shut-out Jose Zepeda in Orlando in September 2023 before he set up his World title shot against Paro with victory in a final eliminator over Gustavo Lemos in Las Vegas last April.
 
Kambosos Jr (22-3 10 KOs) has very fond memories of the venue too, with the Australian returning to the scene of his greatest night, where he became the king at 140lbs by stunning Teofimo Lopez in November 2021. ‘Ferocious’ returned Down Under where he twice met Devin Haney in Melbourne before welcoming Vasiliy Lomachenko to Perth, with a victory over Maxi Hughes in Oklahoma. The 31 year old claimed the 22nd win of his pro career in March against Jake Wyllie in Sydney and will look to become a two-time World ruler against Hitchins.
 
“June 14, NY we are here baby!” said Hitchins. “The 140lb king returns home, headlining my first show at MSG, as a World champion. Just saying it aloud gives me chills. I dreamed of moments like this as a kid and now we are here.
 
“George Kambosos is not on my level. Never has been, never will be. He’s talked himself into this fight, and now he’s going to pay the price for running his mouth. He had the biggest win of his career and crowning moment in this building, and on June 14 I end his career in that same building.
 
“This is my time, my division, and I plan on putting on a spectacular performance and showing the world that I am one of the best fighters on the planet.”
 
“The stars align again, history always repeats, I head back to a place I created legacy at, a home where I may be regarded as an underdog again but a familiar place that i thrive in,” said Kambosos Jr.
 
“I stand 2-0 at Madison Square Garden, the world’s most famous arena, and on June 14, I will make it 3-0 when I rip Hitchins’ belt off him and break his will, take his heart and ruin his undefeated career.
 
“He has never been in a fight with a fighter like me, I have stepped to the absolute best, a resume unlike any. This is my 6th World title fight. I’ve built countless experience and at my new weight of 140 pounds I feel tremendous and very motivated to become a two-weight World champion.
 
“He likes to talk for a man that deep down hasn’t achieved much, so I look forward to taking him to a place he has never been and seeing how much of the talk is real and how much of it is fake like others in the past. See you June 14, Shitchins”
 
Before two blockbuster nights in America, two shows hit DAZN at the end of May. There’s a mouthwatering World title fight in Yokohama, Japan as Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez and Masanori Rikiihsi clash for the vacant IBF World Super-Featherweight title at Yokohama Buntai, Yokohama on Wednesday May 28, live on DAZN in the UK, USA, Canada and throughout Europe.
 
Nunez (27-1 27 KOs) travels to the land of the Rising Sun for his first World title fight, as the Mexican knockout merchant and IBF #1 locks horns with Rikiishi (16-1 11 KOs) who himself is on a five-straight KO win tear.
 
Three days later, Matchroom return to Mexico on Friday May 30 as Manuel Gallegos and Khalil Coe clash in a rematch for the WBC USA Light-Heavyweight title at Arena Alcalde in Guadalajara, live worldwide on DAZN.
 
Gallegos (21-2-1 18 KOs) and Coe (9-1-1 7 KOs) first met in November in Philadelphia where the Mexican ripped the title from the New Jersey talent with a ninth-round stoppage, and they will tussle for the strap again next month, this time on the champions home turf.
 
Two hometown favorites are in action with Gabriel Valenzuela (30-4-1 17 KOs) fighting over ten rounds at Super-Lightweight and WBO Latino Bantamweight champion Christian Medina (24-4 17 KOs) kicking off the night on DAZN.
 
“This is another brilliant slate of fights on the home of boxing, DAZN,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Bam is a pound-for-pound superstar of the sport at such a young age, and he is primed to unify once again against a tough foe in Cafu, while it’s another big showcase for Diego to underline his readiness to face the World rulers.
 
“Richardson was fantastic against Liam in Puerto Rico but now the hunter becomes the hunted, and George is returning to the scene of his greatest triumph to rip up the script against New York’s only World champion.
 
“I cannot wait to be in Japan to see the vicious ‘Sugar’ Nunez claim the World title against Rikiihsi and then head to Mexico for a pivotal night in the career of Khalil Coe, as he rematches Gallegos.”
 

PHILADELPHIA–It was a little tougher this time, but Jaron Ennis defended his IBF Welterweight title with his second 12-round unanimous decision over Karen Chukhadzhian in almost two years. This time it took place at Wells Fargo Center in Ennis’ hometown of Philadelphia.

The first bout, which took place in January of 2023 saw Ennis cruise to a 12-round shutout in a bout that saw Chukhadzhian bascally run around the ring and not engage. This time Chukhadzhian tried his best and at times have success landing on Ennis. Ennis landed more often and harder and used a two-fisted attack from bot the orthodox and southpaw stances.

In round five, Ennis landed a solid upper cut that put the challenger on the canvas. There were several times that Ennis had Chukhadzhian on the brink of trouble, but the Ukranian was able to fend off just enough to keep further damage from incurring.

In round 10, Chukhadzhian was deducted a point for holding. Chukhadzhian was gritty, but was out gunned by the much more dynamic Ennis.

Ennis landed 224 of 730 punches. Chukhadzhian was 173 of 622.

Ennis, 146 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 118-109, 117-110 and 116-111 to push his record to 33-0. Chukhadzhian, 146 1/2 lbs from Kiev, UKR is 24-3.

After the match, Ennis offered an honest review: “My performance was okay. I don’t know, it might be time to go to 154. I felt good, but I feel at 154 I’m going to be way better…I was prepared for anything he had coming; it didn’t really matter to me.”

“After I dropped [Chukhadzhian] I felt like he was holding ever since then. That’s on me though, I needed to take half a step back, rip those shots, use my angles, and just listen more. My dad was saying everything right and I just wasn’t listening.” 

“It means everything, I appreciate everybody that came out and showed their support, even though it wasn’t a top guy. Every time I fight here it’s going to get bigger and better,” said Ennis on fighting in front of his home crowd for the second straight bout.

Bam Rodriguez Stops Guevara in 2

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez defended the WBC Super Flyweight title with a second round stoppage of Pedro Guevara

In round two, Rodriguez landed a hard left that put Guevara on the canvas. Seconds later, Rodriguez landed a perfect right uppercut on the chin that put Guevara down and the fight was stopped at 2:47.

Rodriguez, 114.8 lbs of San Antonio is 21-0 with 14 knockouts. Guevara, 114.4 lbs of Sinalba, MEX is 42-5-1.

Speaking after the fight, Rodriguez commented, “I’m pretty happy, but I kind of already knew it was going to happen that way. It is what it is. On to the next. I really didn’t expect that [his movement]. I really thought he was going to stand there and fight a little bit more.”

When asked what’s next for him, Rodriguez added, “I feel good, this is my weight class right now. Got a few more fights here and then we’ll see where we go from there…Any unification fight, I’m ready right now.”

Ray Ford Drops Orlando Gonzalez Twice; Cruises to Unanimous Decision

Former Featherweight World Champion Raymond Ford scored two knockdowns en route to a 10-round unanimous decision over Orlando Gonzalez in a junior lightweight bout.

In round two, Ford landed a perfect right hook to the jaw that deposited Gonzalez under the bottom rope.

In round eight, Ford dropped a now bloodied (from the nose Gonzalez with another perfect right hook to the jaw.

Ford landed 171 of 481 punches. Gonzalez was 35 of 297.

Ford, 130 lbs of Canden, NJ won by scores of 100-88 twice and 99-89 and is now 16-1-1. Gonzalez, 130 lbs of Aguildila, PR is 23-3.

“I feel like the fight tonight went really well,” said Ford. “I just wanted to close the show and get him out of there. This win means a lot to me. It gets me higher in the 130-pound rankings so I can eventually get a shot at a world title.”

Gallegos Scores Four Knockdowns; Stops Coe in 9

Manuel Gallegos scored the biggest win of his career as he stopped Khalil Coe in round nine of their 10-round light heavyweight bout.

In round five, Gallegos dropped Coe with a left to the body. Coe furiously came back and hurt Gallegos with several hard right hands. In round seven, Gallegos hurt Coe with an uppercut and floored him with a right hand to the head. In round eight, Gallegos sent Coe down again with a left hook to the body along the ropes. As soon as the ninth bell rang, Gallegos went directly at Coe and dropped him with a combination and referee Eric Dali stopped the bout at seven seconds.

Gallegos, 174 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 21-2-1 with 18 knockouts. Coe, 175 lbs of Jersey City, NJ is 9-1-1.

Reflecting on his preparation coming into the fight, Gallegos said, “This is a very good division, so I had to train hard. I had a long training camp up in Monterrey with my friends there. I have to thank my trainers that put me through my paces, and I think you saw the fruits of that labor of my long preparation in the ring tonight.”

He added, “I don’t know what’s next but I’m open to all options. I’ll let my promoter, and my team decide, but I’ll face whoever they put in front of me. I’m ready. I’ll stay at this weight. I like the 175-pound division – a lot of opportunities at this weight.”

Ammo Williams Takes out Garrido in 5

Austin Williams stopped Gian Garrido iin round five of their eight-round middleweight bout.

The right eye of Garrido began to swell in round two.

In round five, Williams battered Garrido all over the ring and then landed a booming left that forced referee Harvey Dock to stop the bout at 1:04.

When asked how Williams felt to have a win back under his belt he responded, “Man I feel amazing. I’m a champion. I’m a true champion in every sense of the word…I just came to make a statement and let y’all know I’m back, I’m a champion, and I’m coming for that world championship. Anybody at my weight can get it.

Ismail Muhammad remained undefeated with a four-round unanimous decision over Nelson Morales in a welterweight contest.

Muhammad, 145.8 lbs of Philadelphia won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 6-0. Morales, 145.8 lbs of Scranton, PA is 5-19.

Morales was cut around the left eye in the fourth round.

PHILADELPHIA--Zaquin Moses made a successful debut with a four-round unanimous decision over Michael Ruiz in a super featherweight bout.

Moses, 129.6 lbs of Newark, New Jersey is the cousin of Shakur Stevenson, won by scores of 40-36 on all cards and is now 1-0. Ruiz, 129.6 lbs of Lacey Township, NJ is 1-5.

When asked about entering the ring for the first time as a professional, the three-time national amateur champion replied, “It was a learning experience. This was my first fight, so it was all new to me, the eight ounce [gloves] was new to me, fighting with no headgear was new to me. I never fought without headgear before. I like it better than the amateurs.”

Dennis Thompson opened the night with a second round stoppage over Edgar Ortiz Jr, in a scheduled four-round super bantamweight bout.

Thompson battered Ortiz all over the ring until Eric Dali stopped the bout at 2:59.

Thompson, 121.8 lbs of Philadelphia is a stablemate of Jaron Ennis is now 3-0 with two knockouts. Ortiz, 121.2 lbs of Phoenix is 8-6-2.

“I feel like I was calm in this fight, I was able to put my shots together and I worked on my speed and combinations in this fight,” said Thompson. 

LIVE ON BEFORE THE BELL FROM 5.15PM ET4 x 3 mins Super-Bantamweight contest

DENNIS THOMPSON (121.8lbs)      vs.          EDGAR ORTIZ JR. (121.2lbs)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                                 Phoenix, Arizona

Followed by

4 x 3 mins Super-Featherweight contest

ZAQUIN MOSES (129.6lbs)  vs.          MICHAEL RUIZ (129.6lbs)
Newark, New Jersey                                    Lacey Township, New Jersey

Followed by

6 x 3 mins Welterweight contest

ISMAIL MUHAMMAD (145.8lbs)       vs.          NELSON MORALES (145.8lbs)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                                 Scranton, Pennsylvania

LIVE ON DAZN FROM 7PM ET

8 x 3 mins Middleweight contest

AUSTIN WILLIAMS (162.2lbs) vs. GIAN GARRIDO (162.2lbs)
Houston, Texas                                Queens, New York

Followed by

10 x 3 mins USWBC Light-Heavyweight title

KHALIL COE (175lbs)                vs.          MANUEL GALLEGOS (174lbs)
Jersey City, New Jersey                              Los Mochis, Mexico

Followed by

10 x 3 mins WBA Continental North American Super-Featherweight title

RAYMOND FORD (130lbs) vs. ORLANDO GONZALEZ (130lbs)
Camden, New Jersey.               Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Followed by

12 x 3 mins WBC World and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight titles

JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ (114.8lbs) vs. PEDRO GUEVARA (114.4lbs)
San Antonio, Texas.                                      Sinaloa, Mexico      

Followed by

12 x 3 mins IBF World Welterweight title

JARON ENNIS (146lbs)              vs.           KAREN CHUKHADZHIAN (146.6lbs)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania                          Kiev, Ukraine

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis has sent a warning to his fellow World champions by saying believes he’s not even shown half of what he is capable of in the ring as he prepares to defend his IBF World Welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian on Saturday night (November 9) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, live worldwide on DAZN – on a stacked card where Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends his WBC World and Ring Magazine Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW VIA TICKETMASTER.COMEnnis (32-0 29 KOs) steps back through the ropes in his hometown arena for the second time following a spectacular homecoming night in July, where he forced David Avanesyan to retire after five rounds in the first defense of his title.

The 27 year old’s clash with mandatory challenger Chukhadzhian (24-2 13 KOs) will be a rematch of their fight in January 2023, where Boots pitched a shut-out in Washington DC. Chukhadzhian has notched three wins since then to move into the mandatory position for Ennis’ belt, but in the build-up to tomorrow’s return, the Philly star promises that the fight will look very different to the first bout now that he’s back having fun again – which is bad news for his fellow title holders in 2025 if he sees the Ukrainian off.

“In the first fight with Chukhadzhian,” said Ennis. “It was just me getting away from having fun. My mindset was just knockout, knockout, knockout. You can’t go into a fight like that, and I never usually do, I just go in, have my fun and put on a show. But that whole training camp, I wasn’t enjoying it, I was just thinking ‘I’m here to hurt everybody’ and that’s how I was in the gym, and it wasn’t good.

“Once I got back to having fun, you could see afterwards I was having my fun and when I do that, the stoppages come, don’t look for it. So, it was nothing about him, he’s got nothing I’ve not seen before, it’s all about me. I just thought ‘I’m going to knock this guy out’, you can’t go in there like that, you have to listen to the game plan, but I didn’t do that. So that performance is all on me, nothing to do with him. What I did from the seventh to the 12th rounds is what I should have done from the start, jabbing to the body, and every time I did cut him off, I was rushing my work. There’s a lot of things from that fight – but I’ve learned, and that’s what matters.

“The key to success is just having fun, that’s it. You have to listen, stay behind the jab and things like that, but the main key is having fun – if you do that, it makes camp better, the fights better, everything, it just flows.

“I think you’ve only seen 35-40 per cent of me so far for real, for real, I haven’t had to go into my bag to do anything yet. When the opposition gets better, I think it brings more out of you, but who knows, just because a guy is good, it doesn’t mean he’s going to do anything towards me, I might beat him easy.

“I want to be an all-time legend, one of the best ever to do it. I don’t feel that I really have to prove anything, I’m just doing what I need to do for myself, my family and my legacy. I don’t have to prove anything to anyone.

“I want to unify and collect the belts, but it’s OK, we’re staying busy and we’re dealing with the mandatory, and that’s going to keep me rolling, keep my name out there, keep my skills and talent going up, so everything is OK.

“It’s out of my hands, I did the best that I could behind the scenes to make the fights happen, but it’s OK, we’re going to meet these guys. I think they are lacking confidence, they don’t believe in themselves, because they know what’s in front of them, that Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is in front of them, a different type of monster, a different type of beast, the king of the 147lbs division. They know what comes with that.

“I’m tired of talking about Crawford. I’ve been trying to get that fight but I don’t worry about that now, we’re tried multiple times. They don’t want the fight, so people need to go and ask them. I’ve tried, but I don’t care anymore, he’s chasing who he’s chasing, I’m focusing on what I’ve got going on right now – but it’s always going to be ‘yes’ on my side.

“Everyone wants to see it, but I get tired of talking about it because right now it doesn’t look realistic as he’s calling out Canelo and stuff like that, so it is what it is. I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Boots and Bam headline a stacked night of action in Philadelphia, with former World champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at Super-Featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez, Light-Heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe takes on Manuel Gallegos, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado makes his Matchroom debut against Jesus Saracho over ten rounds at Super-Lightweight and Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs against Gian Garrido.

Boots Promotions duo Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad return to the ring, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at Super-Featherweight.

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez says he knows he has to be on his game tomorrow night to set up a stellar 2025, as he prepares to defend his WBC World and Ring Magazine World Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday November 9, live worldwide on DAZN, on a night where he shares top billing with local star Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on the top of the stacked card, as Ennis defends his IBF World Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian.

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Bam (20-0 13 KOs) has already recorded a career-best performance in 2024, knocking out Juan Francisco Estrada in seven thrilling rounds in Phoenix in June, to add the Mexican legend’s name to that of Sunny Edwards, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras to the San Antonio starlets impressive CV.

In Guevara (42-4-1 22 KOs), Bam faces another Mexican foe that will be giving everything to rip the belts away. The former WBC Light-Flyweight champion landed the interim WBC World Super-Flyweight title with an impressive away day win over Andrew Maloney in Perth, Australia in May, and the vastly experienced 35 year old can become a two-weight World ruler with victory tomorrow night, and the champion is all to aware of the threat the challenger poses.

“I know that this is a very dangerous fight,” said Rodriguez. “It’s a huge opportunity for him, probably the biggest of his career, so he’ll be hungrier than ever to take what I have. But I don’t see anyone beating me, I’m on a different level mentally and physically, so on November 9 you’ll witness me putting on another show.

“This is an important fight because there’s huge things that can happen if I can beat him. I’m taking this just as seriously as my recent fights. Whatever people say I don’t let it get to me, whether it’s good or bad. I know Pedro is going to come with everything, winning this fight can change his life, but sorry to him, I’m not going to let that happen. My life is in a good position right now, so to even perform badly is going to look bad on me. I’m coming to shine on November 9.

“I know he’s never been stopped but I believe I can stop him. If I want to look good and make a statement, I’m going to go out there and look to stop him.

“I have to get past this fight first but the goal is to go for undisputed in 2025. I’m taking this fight as seriously as ever, training my ass off like any other fight, we’re going to handle business and then we can talk about 2025. 

“You don’t want to miss this because Boots and I are two of the best fighters in boxing and on November 9 we’re going to go out and perform and shine. You’re going to witness a great show from the both of us. And Still.”

Boots and Bam headline a stacked night of action in Philadelphia, with former World champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at Super-Featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez, Light-Heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe takes on Manuel Gallegos, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado makes his Matchroom debut against Jesus Saracho over ten rounds at Super-Lightweight and Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs against Gian Garrido.

Boots Promotions duo Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad return to the ring, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at Super-Featherweight.

By Norn Frauenheim-

Matchroom is calling it Two Kings, which is a couple of face cards from Four Kings, George Kimball’s terrific book about a four-way rivalry that has become a reference point in boxing history. 

Many aspire to be the next Four Kings. But there will never be another four quite like Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran.

Still, half of the famed four is a pretty good hand, a bet that will pay off for promoter Eddie Hearn if welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis and super-fly champ Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez achieve all of their advertised potential. 

The pair will be there Saturday — each an emerging champion in a doubleheader show of main events —  at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center on a DAZN card that figures to provide a promising look, rare these days in a sport desperate for young stars.

Ennis is 27 and Rodriguez 24, which makes them about a generation younger than Tyson Fury, 36, and Oleksandr Usyk, 37, the middle-aged players in the much-hyped heavyweight rematch December 21 in Saudi Arabia. 

Fury-Usyk is a step toward retirement. Ennis-versus-Karen Chukhadshian and Rodriguez-versus-Pedro Guevara are about who’s next. What’s next.

Make no mistake, Fury-Usyk 2 is still intriguing. But some of the anticipation has faded. It’s a little bit stale, a lot like one of Fury’s jokes.

In Ennis and Rodriguez, there’s the unlimited optimism that comes with youth. That also creates a problem, at least it does for the unbeaten Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs), a huge talent fans hope to see and rivals hope to elude. 

Ennis’ versatile skillset has been evident for a couple of years. It’s also been impressive enough to put him on top of the list for most-avoided, a problematic category. 

It’s not a good place to be, an ongoing dilemma that has led to a rematch with Chukhadshian (24-,1 KOs), who in 2023 lost a one-sided decision to Ennis in Washington DC.

A sequel is not something anybody really wants. Fans were thinking more about Terence Crawford or maybe Vergil Ortiz. It’s no secret that Ennis has wanted to fight Crawford, a former undisputed welterweight champion who won a junior-middleweight belt in his last appearance. 

But the accomplished Crawford has shown no interest in a challenging date with the younger man. In media interviews this week, Ennis has said he’s moved on, beyond the Crawford possibility. He said he has tried to talk Errol Spence and/or Keith Thurman into fighting him. Apparently, no takers there either.

“It is what it is,’’ Ennis told reporters. “I’m going to be great, regardless.’’

The path to being great, however, is tricky. Ennis, who will be fighting in hometown Philly for the second straight time, can only get there if he proves himself to be a draw — at the box office and on live-stream telecasts. 

That’s where Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) enters the equation, a main-event fighter whose drawing power became evident in his last fight before a roaring crowd of about 10,000 in downtown Phoenix in late June. 

That’s when he stopped Juan Francisco Estrada in a masterful performance. It was also a victory that allowed him to add to his nickname. Bam is also “The Legend Slayer.’’ 

For Rodriguez, the stop in Philly against the 35-year-old Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs) is a step toward proving he can be a legend as well as a slayer. Also, it’s an opportunity for him to affirm the emerging stardom that was

evident at Footprint Center, the Suns NBA home in downtown Phoenix. 

If Bam can prove to be a draw in Philly, Ennis’ resume could get some important leverage, a card that would also strengthen Hearns’ hand at the table.

The Two Kings: Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, and their respective opponents, Karen Chukhadzhian and Pedro Guevara, held their final press conference at the 2300 Arena today ahead of their world championship bouts on Saturday, November 9 live on DAZN (7 p.m. ET) worldwide from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa. 

IBF Welterweight World Champion Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs), who forced David Avanesyan to retire after five rounds in front of his hometown fans in July, returns to the Wells Fargo Center to face his mandatory challenger. “Bam” Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs), who defends his WBC World and Ring Magazine Super-Flyweight titles, has surged into the top ten of the pound-for-pound rankings following a sensational knockout of Juan Francisco Estrada in Phoenix, Ariz. in June, solidifying his place among the sport’s elite and reaffirming his status as a must-watch fighter. 

The undercard features former world champion Raymond “Savage” Ford making his return at super featherweight to face Orlando Gonzalez. Light Heavyweight prospect Khalil “Big Steppa” Coe will take on Manuel Gallegos, while Ernesto “Tito” Mercado steps into the ring for his Matchroom debut against Jesus Saracho in a 10-round Super Lightweight clash. Austin Williams returns to action for an eight-round middleweight bout against Gian Garrido. 

Also in action, Boots Promotions’ Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad, alongside rising star Zaquin Moses, cousin of pound-for-pound sensation Shakur Stevenson, who makes his pro debut in a four-round super featherweight contest. This is what they had to say:

EDDIE HEARN

“I think that because of the work we do around the world we have the best roster in boxing. It’s a little unfair because we’re the only global promotion company. In America we have the best stable in boxing. You look at the talent on this card, this is one of the most beautiful fight cards you can see on Saturday night. Of course, you have the two kings, Jesse and Boots, but beneath that you have Ray Ford, Gonzalez, that’s a brilliant fight. Khalil Coe, that’s a future world champion. “Ammo” Williams, Tito Mercado in a war. You have Zaquin Moses making his debut, it’s just stacked with talent and I’m very privileged and honored to be a part of these young mens careers. I’m also very privileged to promote in the wonderful city of Philadelphia at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday.”

JARON ENNIS

“I’m not going to lie, he’s getting knocked out on Saturday. We’re gonna have some fun, we’re gonna put on a show. It doesn’t matter what he does, we’re going to put on a show and make a big statement Saturday night. We’re gonna have a party.”

“I’m going to have my fun and put on a show. I’m going to just be me and dictate the fight. It’s my ring, he’s in my world.”

“My main focus right now is Karen Chukhadzhian and after I make a big statement Saturday night in knockout fashion, it’s undisputed. Bring me my belts.”

KAREN CHUKHADZHIAN

“I’m ready for Saturday night as the last two years we have worked so hard and have got better each day. I’m going to show my improvements to people. Of course I’m going to fight him (Ennis) you will see a great fight. I’m here to be a world champion and that’s why I’m here and to prove it to people.”

JESSE RODRIGUEZ

“To share the card with “Boots” Ennis, one of the best in all of boxing, is an honor and a huge opportunity to expose my career to the East Coast fans. I’m just blessed to be sharing a card with Boots at the end of the day”

PEDRO GUEVARA

“I really prepared for this bout as I’ve been waiting for this many times. I’m prepared physically and mentally for this bout and I know Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is a great fighter and the best in the division and we want to be an honorable opponent for him. We don’t take this easily and I respect this sport and my opponent. Boxing is a beautiful sport right now.”

RAYMOND FORD

“Every fight is a must win fight, it doesn’t matter who it is. It can be someone you just picked up off the street, it’s a must win. I’m excited to be back in Philly, I haven’t been back here since my pro debut. I get to fight in front of my friends, my family, and my true supporters.”

“I feel like I’m the big dog in the division now and I just got here, but it’s up to me Saturday night to handle business and focus solely on Orlando Gonzalez. I have to take care of him and then I can get these other big fights.”

“I feel like [Gonzalez] is scared. When he gets in there with top notch competition he folds up… I’m gonna punish him”

ORLANDO GONZALEZ

“I’m a different kind of fighter. He is moving up to 130 lbs and this is going to be a walk in the park. This is going to be a real fight, so I invite every fan around the world that watches DAZN and Matchroom Boxing, as well as all the Puerto Ricans in the area to come here and wave your flag because Wells Fargo Center is going to be all us Saturday night.”

“I grew up sparring against a southpaw, so bringing another southpaw into the ring is nothing different for me. I know [Ford] has experience and is a former world champion, but I have the talent, I have the heart, and for Puerto Ricans boxing is a culture. We came here to win. We didn’t come here just to put on a good fight. We’re here to win.”

KHALIL COE

“I know he’s coming to fight and he’s tough, but I’m ready to go to war. He’s going to bring the fight to me and that’s what I want. We are going to see if this is a step up come Saturday. I got accustomed to the professional life and living the lifestyle of boxing. It’s not just when the fight comes I get ready, it’s a lifestyle that I have to do everyday.” 

MANUEL GALLEGOS

“People say my opponent is a monster and I get that, but we are totally prepared for that and even more. The way I feel now and everything that goes into making the weight and the effort I put into it has helped me feel stronger than I previously did.”

ERNESTO MERCADO

“Saracho is just another step in my way and I want the big names such as Paro vs. Hitchins and the winner of that. It’s all about taking care of business on Saturday night. I appreciate Saracho taking this fight on Saturday night because he’s going to get knocked out. I’m looking for bigger names. Anything that Saracho tries to do to make it more difficult for me on fight night we are ready for it.”

JESUS SARACHO

“Whenever a Mexican goes into the ring, it’s a case of you not being able to take your eyes off the TV. I think this is going to steal many eyes and people to watch this fight on Saturday. This is an opportunity to show what I can do and I think I am going to move on to bigger things.”

AUSTIN WILLIAMS

“This feels like a pro-debut number two. I’m coming back stronger from everything I learned, the highs, the lows, my team, everybody with me, and it’s important to know these things as we take this next chapter all the way to the top. I am one of the original guys that started with Matchroom and to see that loyalty reciprocated makes me feel great and excited to give you a big show on Saturday.”

ISMAIL MUHAMMAD

“I can’t wait, I’m more than blessed to have this opportunity to showcase my talent on this big platform and put on a show come Saturday night.”

“It’s important to fight here and get grounded here just to have the city behind you, knowing that this is your biggest support system being at home. It’s big. It’s amazing.”

ZAQUIN MOSES

“I’m ready to show the world that there is a new face in boxing. I’m ready to show my skills.”

“We push each other, we work hard, and Raymond Ford he pushed me to every limit… Shakur, he gave me the advice that I need. I’m blessed.”

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis is a ready to shine bright on home soil once again as he prepares to defend his IBF World Welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian on Saturday night (November 9) at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, live worldwide on DAZN – on a stacked card where Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends his WBC World and Ring Magazine Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara.

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Ennis (32-0 29 KOs) steps back through the ropes in his hometown arena for the second time following a spectacular homecoming night in July, where he forced David Avanesyan to retire after five rounds in the first defense of his title.

The 27 year old’s clash with mandatory challenger Chukhadzhian (24-2 13 KOs) will be the first time he’s had back-to-back fights in Philadelphia since an eight-round fight in December 2017 was followed by a six-round outing in January 2018. ‘Boots’ is determined to keep filling his new home after having a blast in July against Avanesyan and is even eyeing up a fight at the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, if he can keep collecting belts and growing in his city.

“Fighting at the Wells Fargo Center for my first hometown show in a long time, it was amazing,” said Ennis. “It was a great atmosphere in there, it was a blessing, it was crazy. People were saying it was like a family reunion, a concert and like being on the block, all rolled into one, and I’m ready to do it again.

“It was important to look good in July, it always is, but more so then. The fans love me and they want to see me put on a show and knock people out. That’s what I do and that’s what I’m going to do again, have my fun and get the KO.

“It was a cool performance, but I did feel off and rusty. My timing was a little bit off, I was missing shots that I never miss, but having this fast turn around and get right back into the mix of things is going to be even better. I’ll be more on point this time, much sharper, my defense will be on point, and I’m going to have fun. This is the one, don’t miss this one.

“Every time I step out in Philadelphia, whether it’s the Wells Fargo or Lincoln Financial Field, who knows, maybe I can get a fight that’s big enough to fight there, but it’s always going to be bigger and better every time.”

Bam and Boots headline a stacked night of action in Philadelphia, with former World champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at Super-Featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez, Light-Heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe takes on Manuel Gallegos, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado makes his Matchroom debut against Jesus Saracho over ten rounds at Super-Lightweight and Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs against Gian Garrido.

Boots Promotions duo Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad return to the ring, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at Super-Featherweight.
 

By Norm Frauenheim

He’s a little guy about to embark on a second chapter, also a significant one with the potential to be the biggest in the history of fighters at the bottom — the forgotten — end of boxing’s scale.

Jesse Rodriguez’ emergence over the last year is impossible to ignore. His popularity, perhaps, is best defined by his nickname. Bam, it’s simple, descriptive and easy to remember in just about any language. Bam, it could be in a super-hero cartoon or a TV ad for some new household product. But these days it sums up a fighter whose dynamic skillset can put some rare bam into a sport in desperate need of some.

Increasingly, today’s boxing is about fights that don’t happen. Anyone interested in more exasperating speculation about Canelo Alvarez-versus-David Benavidez or Canelo-versus-Terence Crawford? Didn’t think so. Anybody interested in more dreary news about the IBF, Irrelevant Boxing Federation, stripping another fighter of another title? Didn’t think so.

There have been lots of headlines this week, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Muhammad Ali’s iconic stoppage of George Foreman in then Zaire. The stories are terrific. But, mostly, they fill a void. Nostalgia is about all boxing has these days. 

Baseball celebrated its rich history this week  with another compelling World Series between the Dodgers and Yankees while boxing remembers its colorful past while wondering whether there’s much of a future.

Increasingly, I fear, boxing’s biggest moments will be the circus-like exhibition that we’re about to witness in the 57-year-old Mike Tyson against the 27-year-old Jake Paul. A big crowd figures to gather November 15 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex. A big Netflix audience is likely. 

But they’ll be watching for the same reason people stop to watch a car wreck. In Tyson-Paul, there’s a chance an accident is about to happen.

It’s a dreary landscape, mostly devoid of promise. But there is Rodriguez, unbeaten (20-0, 13 KOs) and a reason for optimism. He just renewed his deal with Matchroom, the opening step in the 115-pound fighter’s move up the pound-for-pound scale. 

Next up: A date against a so-called mandatory challenger, Mexican Pedro Guevara (42-4-1, 22 KOs) on Nov. 9 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on a card featuring welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis against Karen Chukhadzhian.

Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn added Bam to the card after hearing complaints about Chukhadzhian in a rematch. Ennis scored a one-sided decision — 120-108 on all three scorecards —over the Ukrainian in January 2023.

Hearn countered the complaints with his newly-minted star, Rodriguez, a small fighter who figures to be a big draw for Philly’s Puerto Rican audience. In part, the Philadelphia fight is a chance for Rodriguez to further affirm the stardom he established in entertaining fights in Phoenix, the best market for little guys in the United States since Hall of Fame junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal’s memorable run in the 1990s.

The milestone moment was Rodriguez’ masterful seventh-round stoppage of Juan Francisco Estrada last June in front of a roaring crowd of about 10,000 at Footprint Center, the Suns home arena in downtown Phoenix. It was a Super Fly fight that included power — three knockdowns — two by Bam and one by Estrada. Mostly, however, it was an almost artful exhibition of boxing skill from both. 

If boxing passed out an award for Most Skillful Fight Of the Year, Rodriguez-Estrada would be this corner’s choice with light-heavyweight Artur Beterbiev’s majority decision over Dmitry Bivol on Oct. 14 in Saudi Arabia a close second. Rodriguez-Estrada was fought at the craft’s highest level.

Initially, the proud Estrada talked about a rematch. After thinking about it, however, he decided no and announced he would move up in weight. In effect, it was an affirmation of just how good Rodriguez is. 

And will be. 

The best guess is that Rodriguez will beat Guevara, a 35-year-old former champion who is perhaps best known for beating former featherweight and junior-lightweight champion Oscar Valdez Jr. as an amateur.

Then, there’s a move to unify the 115-pound title. For now, it’s not clear where that takes him. There had been talk about a fight with the winner of a projected rematch between Kazuko Ioka and Fernando Martinez, an Argentine who scored a decision over Ioka in Japan in July. 

There have confusing reports this week about whether the Irrelevant Boxing Federation had stripped Martinez of its 115-pound title. At last report, the acronym said Martinez had relinquished the belt because he wanted to proceed with the Ioka rematch instead of a so-called mandatory. I don’t know. I don’t care.

The only significant scenario here is a path for Rodriguez to secure a shot at another belt — against Ioka or Martinez or whoever — in an effort to unify one title in perhaps another step toward Naoya Inoue, maybe the most popular Japanese athlete not named Shohei Ohtani. 

For now, Rodriguez-versus-Inoue is a dream fight. Inoue, a former junior-flyweight champion, is currently fighting at junior-featherweight, 122 pounds. There’s been talk about him at featherweight, 126. Weight might be a hurdle, although  the 24-year-old Rodriguez is expected to mature. His body type suggests he can carry more weight. 

There’s also Junto Nakatani. Nakatani, unbeaten with dangerous power, is fighting at bantamweight. He looms as the most immediate threat to Inoue’s Japanese reign.

Still, Rodriguez-versus-Inoue — a cross-cultural, world-wide clash between a Mexican-American and a Japanese star — is still the Dream.

Boxing needs one. 

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez believes he’s in the right place with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom to become undisputed at Flyweight, as he prepares to defend his WBC and Ring Magazine World Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday November 9, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Rodriguez (20-0 13 KOs) penned a new deal with Matchroom ahead of his 21st fight in the paid ranks, where he joins fellow superstar and Philly ace Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on the top of the stacked card, as Ennis defends his IBF World Welterweight title against mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian.

Bam’s clash with his WBC mandatory challenger Guevara (42-4-1 22 KOs) is his seventh as a Matchroom fighter after impressing Hearn with a KO win in Fresno, California in October 2021. The San Antonio star has been in World title action ever since that night, taking on Carlos Cuadras at late notice to win the WBC Super-Flyweight title, and taking out two more of the ‘Four Kings’ in Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Juan Francisco Estrada to crash in to the top ten of the pound-for-pound rankings and establish himself as a must-see fixture in the sport – a long way from how he felt before putting pen to paper with Hearn.

“At one point no-one wanted to sign me,” said Rodriguez. “Eddie gave me an opportunity to fight on his card in Fresno, and by the next fight I was signed to Matchroom and that was the Carlos Cuadras fight, and from that point, my life has changed. 
 
“Loyalty is everything in boxing, if it’s not there, you don’t have anything. Eddie gave me the opportunity and I know that he’s looking out for me, and that’s why I feel at home at Matchroom.
 
“I have to get past this fight first, but the goal is to go for undisputed in 2025. I’m taking this fight as seriously as ever, training my ass off like any other fight, we’re going to handle business and then we can talk about 2025.”
 
“We’re delighted that Jesse has extended his deal,” said Hearn. “His rise into the top ten of the pound-for-pound list is something we’re very proud to be a part of – and there is still so much more to come from him. Jesse only wants the biggest and best fights, and I don’t see anything stopping him from winning more World titles at higher weight classes.”
 
“From the moment Robert brought Jesse to us, we knew what a special fighter he was,” said Mr Akihiko Honda, president of Teiken Promotions. “Having worked with him throughout his entire career, we are so pleased to see his success and to receive his recognition as one of the current pound-for-pound greats. We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Matchroom Boxing and are looking forward to many more big nights to come in the career of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.”
 
Bam and Boots headline a stacked night of action in Philadelphia, with former World champion Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at Super-Featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez, Light-Heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe takes on Manuel Gallegos, Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado makes his Matchroom debut and Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs against Gian Garrido.

Boots Promotions duo Dennis Thompson and Ismail Muhammad return to the ring, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at Super-Featherweight.

Raymond ‘Savage’ Ford will return to action up at Super-Featherweight when he takes on Orlando Gonzalez at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on Saturday November 9, live worldwide on DAZN – with Ford leading the undercard that also features Light-Heavyweight talent Khalil ‘Big Steppa’ Coe taking on Manuel Gallegos and Ernesto ‘Tito’ Mercado making his Matchroom debut, all in support of the blockbuster World championship double-header as hometown hero Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis headlines at Wells Fargo Center once again, defending his IBF World Welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends his WBC and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara.
 

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Ford (15-1-1 8 KOs) makes the move to 130lbs and does so with ambitions of becoming a two-weight World ruler. The Camden ace landed the WBA World title at 126lbs in March with a stunning last-gasp KO win over Otabek Kholmatov in upstate New York and was edged out in his first defense via split decision against Nick Ball in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in June.

The 25 year old will be looking to put his new division on notice with a stand-out performance in Philadelphia where the WBA Continental North American title will be on the line over ten rounds, but ‘Savage’ faces a Puerto Rican in fine form in Gonzalez (23-2 12 KOs). Wins over the distance against Ramiro Cesena and Jose Casteneda look good on the 29 year old’s CV, and he’ll be looking to ruin Ford’s introduction to the division.

“All the champs at 130lbs better watch out because I’m coming for all of those straps,” said Ford. “I don’t have to do a whole lot of talking, people know what I can do when I’m at the top of my game. Right now, I’m in Colorado working hard and people are going to see the end result on November 9. Two-weight World champ coming soon, no doubt!

“This is my first fight so close to home since I made my pro debut so it’s great to be back there and I know there’s a lot of people going to come out and support.”

“I’d like to thank Probox, Garry, Chris and Daniel, and Matchroom for the opportunity,” said Gonzalez. “Ray Ford is a World-level fighter and I’m going to show I’m on his level and beyond. It’s going to be a great fight.”

Coe (9-0-1 7 KOs) will be itching to get back to the city of brotherly love, where he shone on the undercard of Boots’ win over David Avanesyan in July. ‘Big Steppa’ had the crowd on their feet as he pummeled Kwame Ritter inside two rounds of their clash for the vacant USWBC Light-Heavyweight title, a belt he puts on the line for the first time and in search of a fifth straight win inside the distance.

Standing in his way is Gallegos (20-2-1 17 KOs) the Mexican that returns to action for the first time since tackling another rising star from Eddie Hearn’s stateside stable, when he met Diego Pacheco in July 2023, and now moving up from 168lbs to look to halt Coe’s rise.

“November 9, Philly stand-up,” said Coe. “We back. Big Steppa – coming through. Fighting in Philly is like being home for me, and having the opportunity to put on another show in front of all my family and friends is extra special and I am ready to put on another spectacular performance.

“I believe that there is no better prospect in boxing than me, and on November 9, Manuel Gallegos is about to find that out the hard way.”

“My name is Manuel Gallegos, ‘el Meño’, and I’m ready for my next fight against Khalil Coe,” said Gallegos. “I’m hugely motivated and can’t wait to fight in this weight division where I feel great.”

Mercado (16-0 15 KOs) penned a deal with Matchroom after Hearn fought off fierce competition for his signature, and the 22 year old will be looking to continue his brilliant 2024 with a fourth win inside the distance. ‘Tito’ will be in action over ten rounds at Super-Lightweight, against an opponent to be named soon.

Austin Williams returns to the ring over eight rounds at 160lbs, eager to get back to winning ways. Williams (16-1 11 KOs) gamely battled Hamzah Sheeraz for the WBC Silver title in the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5 vs. 5 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in June, taking plenty from his brave performance against the powerful Brit.

Dennis Thompson (2–0 1 KO) and Ismail Muhammad (5-0 3 KOs) both recorded points wins on the undercard of Ennis’ win over David Avanesyan in July in Philadelphia, and the Boots Promotions duo are back again under their mentor over four rounds at Super-Flyweight and six rounds at Welterweight respectively, and there’s a debut on the card for the hotly-touted Zaquin Moses, the cousin of pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson, stepping through the ropes for the first time over four rounds at Super-Featherweight.

“This is going to be some night in Philadelphia,” said Hearn. “Boots and Bam are two of the very best that there is, and we have a brilliant supporting cast before those two pound-for-pound stars strut their stuff.

“Ray is back and is ready to meet any champion at 130lbs to become a two-weight king, while Khalil is like a runaway train right now, he’s going to be knocking very loudly on the door of the contenders at Light-Heavyweight.

“Ammo showed incredible guts and heart against Hamzah, and he will have learned so much from that night to go again in his career, and I cannot wait to let Tito off the leash and showcase his immense talent on the big stage. It’s another big night for Dennis and Ismail fighting for Boots Promotions, and watch out for Zaquin making his pro debut, there’s a massive buzz around this young man.”

Two pound-for-pound superstars will light up Philadelphia on November 9 as hometown hero Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis headlines at Wells Fargo Center once again, defending his IBF World Welterweight title against Karen Chukhadzhian and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez defends his WBC and Ring Magazine World Super-Flyweight titles against Pedro Guevara, live worldwide on DAZN.

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Ennis (32-0 29 KOs) thrilled his hometown crowd at Wells Fargo in July, forcing David Avanesyan to retire on his stool after five rounds to make the maiden defense of his IBF crown. ‘Boots’ boxed in his Philadelphia backyard for the first time since November 2018 on that night, and his city showed out, recording the highest attendance for a boxing event in Philadelphia for over 40 years.

The 27 year old has reiterated his desire to become undisputed at 147lbs, and to do so, must first see off his mandatory challenger in Chukhadzhian (24-2 13 KOs). The Ukrainian has already faced Boots in Washington in January 2023, but since that night has collected impressive wins over Pietro Rossetti (TKO 9, October, Munich) and Harry Scarff (UD, May, Hamburg) to land the mandatory spot for Boots’ prized belt.

Boots is joined on the card by two-weight ruler Rodriguez (20-0 13 KOs), who skyrocketed into the top five pound-for-pound rankings with Ring Magazine following his stunning KO win over Juan Francisco Estrada in Phoenix in June, with a brutal body shot in the seventh round seeing ‘Bam’ rip the titles from the Mexican star.

Bam will be seeking a third straight win inside the distance having forced Briton Sunny Edwards to retire after nine rounds of their Flyweight unification battle in December in Arizona, but in Guevara (42-4-1 22 KOs), he faces another Mexican foe that will be giving everything to rip the belts away. The former WBC Light-Flyweight champion landed the interim WBC World Super-Flyweight title with an impressive away day win over Andrew Maloney in Perth, Australia in May, and the vastly experienced 35 year old can become a two-weight World ruler with victory on November 9.

“I’m excited to be back headlining in my city again,” said Ennis. “I’m ready to continue dominating the division, making a big statement and showing everyone why I’m the best Welterweight in the world!

“It’s time to have some fun, keep crushing whoever is in front of me, put on a beautiful, dominant, crushing performance in front of my family, friends and supporters, while defending and retaining my IBF world title in spectacular fashion. It’s time!”

“Dear boxing fans,” said Chukhadzhian. “I want to share with you the good news: on November 9 we will fight for the IBF World title against Ennis.

“I will have enough time to prepare and show a beautiful and spectacular fight! Champ, get ready for the battle, it will be hot!”

“On November 9 tune in to DAZN, get your tickets and witness another exciting performance,” said Rodriguez. “My belts aren’t going anywhere! And still!”

“I am very happy to have this opportunity to fight Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez,” said Guevara. “I am very grateful to Matchroom, JD Promotions and Bxstrs for getting me this fight.

“I am telling you right away that I am going to prepare to put on a war and a great show and to win on November 9 in Philadelphia. I am going with everything and for everything, Viva Mexico and Viva Mazatlan, Sinaloa.”

“What a night we have in store in Philadelphia on November 9 – two of boxing’s elite stars on the same card to thrill the fans,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Boots’ return to Philly in July was a spectacular night, the fans and the city got right behind him, and I can’t wait to return there and keep building this superstar on his doorstep.

“And what can you say about Bam? His win over Estrada will be one of the performances of the year when the awards are handed out, and he rightly landed in the top five of the pound- for-pound list after it. Jesse is a bonafide superstar in his own right, so to have him join Jaron on this card is a massive treat for Philly’s great fight fans – and there’s plenty more great talents to be added to a night that is not to be missed.”

By Norm Frauenheim –

So far, it’s been a summer defined by a new face, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, and a resurrected one, Jaron “Boots” Ennis. Now, it’s Terence Crawford’s turn to make a statement about himself and his place in an evolving game.

Safe to say, it’s changing.

Safe also to say, that nothing has changed about Crawford or his unshakable belief about where he belongs. 

Bud is back to re-affirm — or perhaps remind us with a re-make of legend Roy Jones Jr.’s Ya’ll Must’ve Forgot lyric — that his pound-for-pound dominance has defied time’s inevitable corrosiveness over the many months since beating Errol Spence last year with a masterful performance powerful enough to belong in just about any time.

Crawford, undisputed at welterweight and junior-welter, gets that chance on August 3 when he re-enters the bully pulpit at a heavier weight, 154 pounds, against Isrial Madrimov, a first time junior-middleweight champion, in an intriguing bout at a new arena on some historical real estate in Los Angeles. 

It’s a fight about possibilities and risk. It’s also a fight generating ticket sales and anticipation among fans anxious to see Crawford for the first time in about 13 months. He’s 36-years-old. He’ll be 37 in September, an age which usually means a fighter is beginning to exit his prime. Time and again, however, Crawford proves he’s unusual. 

Against Spence, his brilliance prompted many to wonder, indeed argue, whether he could have held his own in the 1970s and 1980s against Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, writer George Kimball’s Four Kings. We’ll never really know. 

Nevertheless, Crawford might be the only fighter in today’s generation that some believe could have had a real chance — could have been a Fifth King — in what was a golden era. 

Some argue that pay-per-view star Canelo Álvarez belongs in the argument. Maybe, he does. It’s an interesting debate. Actually, it’s more than that.  It could be settled within the ropes instead of only in the imagination. 

Crawford-versus-Canelo is a real possibility — perhaps the biggest — attached to Crawford’s bid to win a fourth title at a fourth weight against Madrimov. Saudi Prince and Promoter Turki Alalshikh has the money to make it happen. 

After all, Saudi money is making the Los Angeles card happen, a first for the Riyadh Season, which is moving from the  Middle East to a longtime, lively fight town on the West Coast. Unlike Riyadh, there’ll actually be a crowd there, one which figures to include a huge number of Mexican and Mexican-American fans. Canelo fans.

They’ve known about the Crawford-Canelo possibility. They’ve heard the talk for months. Among fight fans — a diminishing population, there’s skepticism because of the difference in weight. 

Canelo is the undisputed super-middleweight champion, 168 pounds, two divisions higher than the weight Crawford will be at for the first time against Madrimov. On the scale, it just looks like a jump too far. 

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn believes it is. He says Canelo-Crawford won’t happen, mostly because it puts Canelo in a no-win situation. 

The Mexican, Hearn says, wouldn’t get credit for a win. Because of his weight advantage, he’d be expected to win easily. But Canelo, who lost to Dmitry Bivol in a jump to light-heavyweight in 2022, is seeking only credit attached to a dollar sign. Prince Alalshikh has that kind of credit — seven figures and more — to offer.

Still, Hearn believes Crawford will discover on Aug. 3 that he already has gone too far up the scale. Hearn believes Madrimov, a mostly unknown Uzbek with reported power and athleticism, can win. Of course, Hearn has to say that. He is Madrimov’s promoter

“These great fighters only get beaten when they go up the scale,’’ Hearn said at a news conference when Crawford-Madrimov was formally announced. “I’m hoping.”

Crawford was seated down the table from Hearn for the live-streamed newser.

“You hoping?’’ Crawford, already knowing the answer, interrupted. 

Hearn already knows what happens when you pick against Crawford. In March 2014, Crawford traveled to Scotland and scored a unanimous decision over Hearns-promoted Ricky Burns for his first significant title, the World Boxing Organization’s lightweight belt.

Still, Hearn’s many-sided interests includes another possibility: Crawford against Ennis. Ennis is coming off an impressive fifth-round stoppage of David Avanesyan in a Philadelphia homecoming last Saturday. 

Ennis, a 27-year-old welterweight champion, has long talked about a chance to fight Crawford. If the unbeaten Crawford loses or even struggles at 154 pounds against Madrimov, forget Canelo. 

Then, Hearn believes Crawford-versus-Ennis could happen in a season that might be remembered for Bam, Boots and Bud. Hearn said the possibility has already been mentioned in a conversation with Turki Alalshikh.

“He said if there’s no Canelo fight, he wants to make Boots-versus-Crawford,’’ Hearn said. “Would we do it? The answer: Of course.’’

But the aforementioned if leaves little doubt about Prince Alalshikh’s priority. First and foremost, he wants Crawford-Canelo in a bout that would attract so-called crossover fans for what could deliver a decisive answer, rare in any day and especially so in today’s balkanized business.

Who’s the best, Crawford or Canelo? On the historical scale, it would matter. It would determine the best fighter since the Floyd Mayweather era and perhaps one good enough to be a Fifth King.  

By Norm Frauenheim –

The first half of the year ended with Bam. The second half begins with Boots.

Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez’ brilliant stoppage of Juan Francisco Estrada on June 29 and Jaron “Boots” Ennis’ homecoming title defense against David Avanesyan Saturday are a couple of weeks at the heart of a busy boxing year, a problematic 2024 yet still with reasons to be optimistic that it’ll be remembered for more than just Ryan Garcia.

Through the rest of the week, it’s up to Ennis to extend the drama delivered by Rodriguez’ pound-for-pound statement in a seventh-round stoppage of the accomplished Estrada in front of a roaring crowd in Phoenix.

That’s a tall order. But the elements are there. Ennis is at home in Philadelphia, which celebrates its unrivaled boxing heritage with a statue of Rocky on the steps of the city’s Museum of Art. Boxing has always been something of an art form in Philly.

Ennis just looks as if he’ll be the city’s next master. There have been flashes of Ennis’ blend of power and style since his debut in 2016. But boxing’s forever balkanized politics and petty rivalries always seemed to keep him from achieving his projected artistry.

But now Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) has a new promoter, Matchroom, and a renewed future that begins, the promoters say, Saturday against Avanesyan (30-4-1, 18 KOs) in a DAZN-streamed-welterweight fight at Wells Fargo Center.

Philly fans have noticed. They bought 4,000 tickets in the pre-sale when the fight was first announced with Cody Crowley as the opponent. A month later, Crowley got injured and Avanesyan – knocked out by Terence Crawford in December 2022 – replaced him. Tickets continued to sell. Reportedly, about 10,000 had been sold three days before opening bell.

Call it Ennis’ coming-out party, not unlike Rodriguez’ defining victory over Estrada. Before the super-flyweight bout, it was called a chance for Bam to crash the top five in the pound-for-pound debate. Turns out, that was more than just hype. Bam jumped into the top tier in several ratings, including this one.    

Ennis, who figures to take over the top of the welterweight division in the wake of Crawford’s move up to junior-middle, has fought 31 times, all victories. He’s been fighting long enough to be an aging veteran. But he’s not. He’s just entering his prime, 27, about three years older than the 24-year-old Rodriguez.

Prime means promise. Bam and Boots haven’t squandered theirs. At the heart of boxing in 2024, they’re the future. The guess, perhaps the hope, is that they’ll continue to pursue it in the ring instead of social media.

That brings this column back to Ryan Gracia. He’s in the Bam-and-Boots generation. He’s about a year older than Rodriguez. He’s a couple of years younger than Ennis. But the 25-year-old Garcia has become the poster child for how-not-to-do-it throughout an ongoing story as sad as it is enraging.

He tested positive for a PED and blew off weight before bludgeoning Devin Haney on April 20 after weeks of dark and bizarre behavior on social media. He denied the PED test, alleging some kind of conspiracy about how he had been set-up.

He’s been suspended. But there’s been no suspension of the craziness. Racist remarks on twitter are the latest, including an unforgivable comment about George Floyd, a civil-rights symbol since he was slain on the streets of Minneapolis.

Within 280 characters, Garcia sounded like a rabid racist and a grave robber. Sick, sick stuff. Yet, it continues. He says he’ll go to rehab, but then says he’ll coach his brother instead. He’s been suspended by the New York Commission, his promoter and ruling bodies.

But he stays on social media, almost as if that’s a bigger addiction than any substance. By now, we all know he has a social- media following that only Gallup can count. 

Increasingly, however, his social-media audience is in more control of him than he is control of it. It wants outrage and Garcia delivers, repeatedly elevating the outrage.

It’s dangerous, even more dangerous than boxing, which throughout the first six months of 2024 has been unable to escape the distraction and damage done by the Garcia story.

This Saturday, however, there’s another chance to forget about him, his ongoing decline and his absolute lack of respect for a time-honored craft practiced at the highest level by Rodriguez and Ennis.

If you don’t go to rehab, Ryan Garcia, then just go away. Let the rest of this year be remembered for what Bam did and Boots is about to do. 

By Norm Frauenheim –

Jesse Rodriguez, whose simple nickname is synonymous with his power in the ring, is putting some of that Bam into the pound-for-pound debate.

His thorough seventh-round stoppage of accomplished Juan Francisco Estrada last Saturday is prompting a shuffle in some ratings, yet not all.

From this corner, Rodriguez’ comprehensive performance – he scored two knockdowns and got up from one – puts him in the top five.

On this list, Rodriguez is No. 4, behind Terence Crawford at No.1, Naoya Inoue at No. 2 Oleksandr Usyk at No. 3 and one spot ahead of Tank Davis at No. 5. Shuffle them anyway you like. After all, it’s only an argument.

That said, the 24-year-old Rodriguez delivered an argument hard to ignore. Some of the prominent ratings weren’t convinced. They kept him in the second five, behind Canelo Alvarez, Dmitry Bivol, Artur Beterbiev, Tank and – in some cases – Shakur Stevenson.

The pound-for-pound debate is political, meaning that evidence gets ignored and opinions are rooted in stubborn ego. Conclusion: They’ll never change.

Still, it’s hard to understand how any fair-minded rating can keep Rodriguez out of the first five. To do so is a little bit like scorecards turned in by judges Javier Camacho and Robert Tapper. Through the sixth round, Camacho had Estrada winning, 57-56. On Tapper’s card, it was even, 56-56.

What were they watching?

Not what a roaring crowd of 10,000 at Phoenix’s Footprint saw. Not what I saw either. I was there.

I suspect the controversial cards wouldn’t have mattered had the fight gone the distance. Rodriguez’ dominance was evident in the opening rounds with agile footwork that seemed to confuse Estrada.

His dominance was more evident throughout the next four-plus rounds with knockdowns in the fourth and the finishing blow – a paralyzing body shot — in the seventh.

It also was evident in the unshakeable poise he showed in getting up from a knockdown – the first in his career — in the sixth.

Over the final rounds of the fight, he would have convinced Tapper and Camacho that their rounds were just wrong. Guess here: He would have won a one-sided decision.

But he wound doing a lot more than just that: In a further expression of his nickname, he proved he had the power to take it out of the judges’ hands. Bam, he scored an astonishing knockout of a fighter who had never been stopped. That’s what pound-for-pound contenders do.

In part, I suspect some of the pound-for-pound ratings didn’t jump him into the first five because of traditional bias against the little guys. The flyweight categories – 108 to 115 pounds – have always been ignored.

But there have been exceptions. Bam is just the latest and perhaps the biggest. What’s intriguing is the terrific way in which Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has moved him up a scale from anonymity to prominence.

Hearn has done it at the right time and mostly in the right place. Phoenix has been the launching pad for the San Antonio fighter’s ascendant career.

Phoenix is an emerging boxing market, yet with one aspect missing in many cities. It grew up with a fundamental appreciation of the lightest weight classes. A personal story: I spent much of my newspaper career covering Hall-of-Fame junior-flyweight Michael Carbajal for The Arizona Republic.

About three decades later, I meet fans in their 30s and 40s. They tell me that their dad used to read my stories about Carbajal in The Republic. They say they’re fans today because their dads were.

I think of them when I hear Hearn say that Phoenix fans “are very educated.’’ They are, especially about the flyweights. Today’s growing generation of Phoenix fans learned about the little guys from their dads.

Move the clock forward to today, to Bam.

It’s no coincidence that he won his first title at Footprint, a downtown Phoenix arena that Carbajal helped open in 1992 with a junior-flyweight title defense. Thirty years later, Bam won his first major title there, the then vacant World Boxing Council’s 115-pound belt, with a unanimous decision on Feb. 5, 2022.

He defended it a couple of times, relinquished it and then won a vacant 112-pound title against Christian Gonzalez at home in San Antonio in April 2023.

Then, it was back to Phoenix at Desert Diamond Arena in suburban Glendale where he retained the 112-pound title by punishing the entertaining Sunny Edwards, forcing the UK fighter into a ninth-round surrender in front of a lively crowd of about 5,000. That performance put Rodriguez into pound-for-pound ratings – at ninth or 10^th — for the first time.

Next stop: A return to Phoenix, this time back to Footprint against the 37-year-old Estrada, one of the best little guys in his flyweight generation. This time, the crowd doubled, jamming the lower bowl for a chance to see a pound-for-pound star’s coming-out party.

After the concussive conclusion, Hearn stood in the ring and thanked the crowd.

“Thank you, Phoenix,’’ he said.

Hearn also said that Phoenix and Japan share a rare appreciation for the smaller weight classes. It’s a reason, in part, that some Phoenix fans will pay attention to Kazuto Ioka’s fight against Argentine Fernando Martinez bout for two 115-pound belts Saturday in Japan.

After taking the WBC title from Estrada, Rodriguez said he wanted the winner in a bout that might represent another step up in the pound-for-pound debate and toward a showdown that has already entered the public imagination:

Bam-versus-Inoue.

“Right now, it’s a fantasy fight,’’ Bam said with wisdom not often heard from somebody still in his early 20s.

It is fantasy. Inoue, a former junior-flyweight and super-fly champion, is fighting at junior featherweight.

“I got to work my way up,’’ Rodriguez said.

He does.

But his victory over Estrada is a further testament to the Bam who gets up, works his way up, on many scales, including one that turns fantasy into reality.

By Norm Frauenheim and David Galaviz

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Only SuperFly could crash the top of the pound-pound debate.

Jesse Rodriguez did that and maybe more with a definitive seventh-round knockout of Juan Francisco Estrada Saturday night in front of a roaring crowd at Footprint.

Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs), the World Boxing Council’s new SuperFly champion, did it by knocking down Estrada (44-4, 28 KOs) in the fourth round and finishing him with a body shot in the seventh. He also did it by showing some of his own grit. He got up from the first knockdown in his career.

“Damn, that was crazy,” Rodriguez said.

Damn that was a good fight, a leading contender for Fight of the Year in 2024.

Estrada, down in the fourth round from a Bam uppercut, came roaring back in the sixth, knocking down Rodriguez with a right hand. What would follow in the seventh was — to use Bam’s word — crazy.

He threw a left hand to Estrada’s body.When it landed, it seemed to paralyze Estrada. He hit the canvas, rolled around in pain. In the final second of the seventh, he was finished, a loser by knockout.

“I made a lot of mistakes,” said the 37-year-old Estrada, who was fighting for the time in about 19 months.

He’s hoping to correct those mistakes in a rematch. Estrada said his contract included a clause for a rematch,perhaps later in the year.

For the 24-year-old Rodriguez, just about anything seems possible. There was even talk about a fight with Japan’s Naoya Inoue. That’s a pound-for-pound possibility, one created when Rodriguez crashed the top of the debate.

Bloodied Sunny Edwards wins technical decision

Sunny in Arizona? More like Scarred.

In his second straight fight in the Phoenix area science a bruising stoppage loss in December to Bam Rodriguez, UK flyweight Sunny Edwards sustained a nasty wound near his right eye in a fight eventually stopped because of a cut caused by a head butt.

This time, Edwards won, scoring a 90-82, 88-84, 87-85 technical decision over Adrian Curiel Saturday night at Footprint Center.

“I’m leaving Arizona a lot uglier than I was when I came here,” Edwards (21-1, 4 KOs) said after the flyweight bout.

The clash of heads came in the sixth. It caused a cut, a long deep gash from the inside of Edwards right eye and up along his forehead. Early in the ninth, referee Mark Nelson ended it on advice of the ringside physician.

The crowd booed.

“I’m not any happier than you are,” Edwards said.

Edwards, of the UK,  came out fast, moving side-to-side and forward behind a jab moving at a rapid-fire rate. Curiel (24-6-1, 5 KOs), a former champion from Mexico, didn’t seem to notice, or care. He moved laterally, kept his gloves up in a defensive posture and seemed to wait for an opportunity. It didn’t come.

 Edwards mocked him in the second, pushed him to the canvas with one hand in the third and mocked him again in the fifth. The crowd whistled, then booed. Then, there was the head butt. Edwards immediately responded, going straight at Curiel with a jab and long right hand. But the blood continued to pour from the cut and into his eyei, a sure sign that the fight would be stopped.

Mercado Decisions Ali To Retain Super Bantamweight belt

In the first of two world tittle fight we had Yamileth Mercado (23-3,5kos) of Ciudad Cuauthemoc, Chihuahua, Mexico taking on Ramla Ali (9-1,2kos) of London, United Kingdom. This will mark the first time fighting in the State since 2021 when she took on Amanda Serrano. This marks her 7th tittle defense of her WBC Super Bantamweight belt. Ramla is coming off a win in the rematch with Julissa Guzman last November. Both coming in at weight limit 

In the opening round was not much action with each filling out one another. However Yamileth pulled away with a few more effective punches. Ramla came out more aggressive to start the 2nd round landed a straight left flush to Mercados face. Mercado got her revenge at the end of the round as she appeared to hurt Ali but it was too late as the round ended. 

The fight picked up as both came out swinging and the continued through out the round with both landing good shots. Effortlessly getting the crowd excited in this tittle fight. 

Ali is finding a home with her Jab continuing to land it, as in the fifth it caught Mercado. 

The middle rounds of the fight had bits and pieces of action, no significant punches landing. 

Much of the same as we entered the championship rounds of the fight, Ali did land an over and right and a left hook to edge out the round. 

Yamileth came out swinging for the final round, but ali had an answer for the aggression once again with her neutralizer the left jab. Effectively halting Mercados offense. As the round continued both fighter put it in over drive and gave the fans in the Footprint Center a well deserved ending to the fight. 

Going to the judges as each having Yamileth Mercado winning 98-92, 98-93, and 97-93 getting the unanimous decision. Successfully defending her tittle for the 8th time Mercado stated she now wants to unify the titles. —-David Galaviz

Cardenas escapes with a majority decision

A slow start. A furious finish.

Arturo Cardenas (14-0-1, 8 KOs) opened the DAZN show featuring Bam Rodriguez-Juan Francisco Estrada Saturday looking tentative. He appeared unsure of himself and perhaps his opponent, Phoenix Mexican junior-featherweight Danny Barrios (15–1, 5 KOs).

But he quickly overcame his slow start and, in the end, overcame Barrios.

Midway through the 10-round bout, the Robert Garcia-trained Cardenas began to find his range and used his superior power. Repeatedly, he caught Barrios with left hands and short right-uppercuts. The crowd roared. Then, it booed as Barrios began to retreat, back away from the increasingly aggressive Cardenas in the ninth and 10th.

In the end, Cardenas escaped with a majority decision. He won on two cards, 97-93 nd 96-94. But on the third, it was a draw, 95-95

Gabriel Muratalla stays unbeaten 

Gabriel Muratalla, a workman-like bantamweight from Fontana CA, was all business.

In the end, that’s what he got, a business-like decision, over Carlos Fontes (23-4-1, 5 KOs), a well-conditioned Phoenix fighter,  who lacked enough hand speed to match Muratalla (12-0, 5 KOs) on the scorecard in the third bout on the Bam-Rodriguez card at Footprint Center..

Muratalla, who had Bam trainer Robert Garcia in his corner, scored often, winning a 99-73, 78-74, 77-75 decision 

AZ welterweight Fabian Rojo scores powerful stoppage

Fabian Rojo‘s left hand left no doubt.

No doubt about why he’s unbeaten.

And, on Saturday, it left Daniel Gonzalez with no chance.

Rojo (9-0, 7 KOs), of Glendale AZ, dropped Gonzalez (5-2,2 KOs), of Albuquerque, three times within two rounds, all with his left hand, in the second bout on a card featuring Juan Francisco Estrada versus Jesse “Bam Rodriguez at Footprint Center.

It ended with successive lefts, each moving like pistons in an engine. They landed like pistons, too, finishing Gonzalez at 1:13 of the second round. The crowd, already gathering in Footprint, roared. Even Gonzalez applauded. He got off the canvas and lifted Rojo up in celebration of a fighter who had just overwhelmed him.   

To get the night started Leonardo Rubacalva (7-0 3Kos) of Teocaltich, Jalisco Mexico took on William “Double barrel” Flenoy (3-3-1) of Fresno, CA. The first round was all Leonardo landing at will, stunning flurry a few times. Things picked up in the 2nd with the fight and the crowd, as Leonardo started to put more pressure on his opponent. Midway through the fight Leo landed s very effective punch combination. Not to stay quiet William came with some shots of his own as to say my double barrel is not empty to which earned the respect of Rubacalva. 

Half way through the fight both fighters showed the mutual respect and not much action happen. With 20 seconds in the 3rd, Rubacalva put it in another gear and landed a left hook that took Williams balance away and having going to the neutral corner with Leonardo following him and landing a few more punches before the bell rang to end the round. 

An over hand right that caught everyone by surprise in the arena by Rubacalva other than the big right the 4th round was not much action. 

The fifth round to which the fight lasted this long to many surprised was more of the same as the previous couple rounds a lot of respect and save the action till the last part of the round

The last round both fighters came out trading punches as if both needed to win the round. The way the round started is the way it ended with both fighters leaving it all out in the ring, not saving nothing for tomorrow. All 3 judges scored it for Leonardo 60-54, the other two having it 59-55 earning a unanimous decision improving to 8-0(3Kos). —-David Galaviz