WBA super flyweight champion Fernando Martinez questions why WBC champ Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez isn’t calling him out for a unification fight.
The 2016 Olympian Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) believes ‘Bam’ Rodriguez saw his win over Kazuto Ioka on July 7th, and now he doesn’t want to fight him. In other words, the 24-year-old ‘Bam’ recognized that would be too risky for a fight for him. So, he’ll stick fighting older guys, like Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.
Fighting Fernando Martinez could potentially spoil ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’s money-making career, as he’s being maneuvered well by the puppet master, Eddie Hearn, one of the best in the business. Hearn has created a formula that matches Bam against a string of old lions, which is well known to hardcore boxing fans who have lost their fangs and claws due to advancing age.
Bam’s Recent Wins
– Pedro Guevara – 34
– Juan Francisco Estrada – 35
– Srisaket Sor Rungvasi – 37
– Carlos Cuadras – 36
Fernando Wants ‘Bam’ To Face Him
“He saw me fight with [Kazuto] Ioka, and now he doesn’t mention me anymore. Why don’t you say that you want to fight me? After Ioka on December 31st, I’m ready for you. Do you want to unify or not?” said Fernando Martinez to Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
It would mean much more if Bam Rodriguez were to fight Fernando Martinez next, but given how talented the Argentinian is, it’s unlikely Hearn will make this fight.
Bam had all kinds of problems in his fight against the young go-getter Israel Gonzalez on September 17, 2022. He won a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas. That fight took a lot out of Bam, and he was lucky to get through it without getting knocked out.
Since then, Hearn has matched ‘Bam’ Rodriguez against Cristian Gonzalez, Sunny Edwards, Estrada, and Guevera. Those fighters were not as young and hungry as Israel Gonzalez.
Last Saturday, ‘Bam’ (21-0, 14 KOs) successfully defended his WBC 115-lb title, knocking out Pedro Guevara (42-5-1, 22 KOs) in the third round at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
‘Bam’ Rodriguez had a massive size and youth advantage over the 35-year-old Guevara and quickly dropped him twice in the third round to get the knockout. After the fight, Rodriguez spoke about wanting to fight the 37-year-old Chocolatito next.
Martinez Has a Rematch With Ioka
The Argentinian Fernando, 33, will be fighting a rematch against Kazuto Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs) on December 31st to clear up the controversy over their previous fight on July 7th in Tokyo, Japan.
The scores for Martinez vs. Ioka
– 117-111
– 120-108
– 116-112
There was little doubt among fans who deserved the victory in the Martinez-Ioka fight last July, but the wide score of 120-108 tainted the outcome. Martinez will get a big payday in the rematch with Ioka, and that makes it worthwhile. It also allows Martinez to shut down the controversy from their previous fight.
Read the full article here
