With no shortage of ranked pound-for-pound fighters in recent title fights, the November “Ring IV” pay-per-view event in Saudi Arabia showcased exceptional boxing talent. Among them, the 25-year-old Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez stood out as particularly dominant.
On the same night that David Benavidez defended his full light heavyweight title and Devin Haney outpointed a dangerous opponent to claim a third division title, Rodriguez’s efforts to unify 115-pound titles shone even brighter.
Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) was expected to face a tough challenge from unbeaten champion Fernando “Puma” Martinez, but he dominated the bout. His skills were on full display as he effortlessly outmatched Martinez, culminating in a decisive finish with a powerful left cross in the tenth round.
Post-fight, Rodriguez expressed his desire for recognition among the elite, hoping to join the ranks of champions such as Terence Crawford, Oleksandr Usyk, and Naoya Inoue.
“My hope is that my performances will see me placed alongside these greats,” Rodriguez stated.
In the current rankings:
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Terence Crawford – Undisputed super middleweight champion (42-0, 31 KOs)
- Crawford secured his place with a remarkable win over Canelo Alvarez.
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Oleksandr Usyk – Undisputed heavyweight champion (24-0, 15 KOs)
- Led the way by stopping Daniel Dubois.
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Naoya Inoue – Undisputed junior featherweight champion (28-0, 25 KOs).
- Continues to be a formidable force in boxing.
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Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – Unified junior bantamweight champion (22-0, 15 KOs).
- Impressed with his latest victory and continues to build his legacy.
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Dmitry Bivol – Undisputed light heavyweight champion (24-1, 12 KOs).
- Achieved a comeback in his recent rematch.
The rankings also feature notable names like David Benavidez and Shakur Stevenson, highlighting a competitive and exciting future in boxing.
