Jonathan Rodriguez Being Positioned For Junior Bantamweight Title Shot

Promoter Paco Damian, CEO of Paco Presents Boxing, has signed junior bantamweight contender Jonathan Rodriguez to a multi-year promotional contract.

Rodriguez is ranked No. 6 by the IBF, No. 12 by the WBO and No. 13 by the WBC. His new promoter hopes to secure him a big fight soon.

In his last fight, Rodriguez (25-2-1, 17 KOs), 28, fought former world title challenger Israel Gonzalez to a draw, snapping a three-fight win streak. This streak followed his loss in a world title fight to then-IBF junior bantamweight titlist Jerwin Ancajas.

“It is a very big signing for me,” Damian said. “We have big plans for him.”

With recent news of former WBC flyweight titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez moving up to the junior bantamweight division, WBC titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada facing Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, and WBA titleholder Kazuto Ioka unifying with IBF titlist Fernando Martinez on July 7, the division is ripe with intriguing matchups.

Given Rodriguez’s strong performance against Ancajas, it’s possible that the TV-friendly fighter could land another significant opportunity in the near future. Now guided by Don Chargin’s protégé, Damian, Rodriguez hopes his new partnership will lead to a major bout against a top name or titleholder.