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Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez delivered a triumphant performance that brought him to tears of joy on the canvas. The undefeated San Antonio native showcased his brilliance by outclassing Sunny Edwards, a formidable defensive fighter, ultimately securing victory in the ninth round and unifying the IBF and WBO flyweight titles at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, this Saturday evening.
In a post-fight interview with DAZN’s Chris Mannix, Rodriguez, elated by his victory in the highly anticipated unification bout, exclaimed,
“Excuse my language but it’s badass. I worked my ass off for this. I knew it was gonna come. It was just a matter of time.”
Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn's vision to fully unify the flyweight division faced a brief delay due to Rodriguez's challenging return to the weight class.
Edwards, who signed with Matchroom with the primary goal of securing unification bouts, engaged in a war of words with Rodriguez in the buildup to the fight. The action-packed showdown unfolded in the DAZN main event in the greater Phoenix area, where Rodriguez effectively utilized his jab to control Edwards’ movement and land powerful left hands.
Despite Edwards' complaints of low blows and strategic adjustments, Rodriguez maintained control, showcasing his dominance. Edwards faced swelling under his left eye in the second round, and Rodriguez strategically targeted the area. Edwards bravely fought on, acknowledging Rodriguez’s prowess, stating,
“Jesse’s a hell of a fighter. I knew that before the fight. I knew that during the fight and I sure as hell know that after the fight.”
Rodriguez's relentless pursuit of victory saw him rocking Edwards in round six, with both fighters exchanging blows in an entertaining frame. Rodriguez's focus and determination remained unwavering, leading to Edwards bleeding in round seven from cuts under his left eye and along the inside of his right eye.
In the eighth and ninth rounds, Rodriguez intensified his attack, culminating in a powerful left hand that sent Edwards to the canvas for the first time in his professional career. Despite Edwards' brave attempt to continue, his lifelong head trainer, Grant Smith, made the difficult decision to end the fight due to concerns about Edwards' impaired vision.
With Rodriguez securing the win and improving to 19-0 (12KOs), he now holds both the IBF and WBO flyweight titles. Rodriguez's remarkable achievement includes landing a remarkable 62.1% of his power punches, solidifying his position as a dominant force in the flyweight division.
Despite Rodriguez's success, he hinted at a potential return to the junior bantamweight division, where he aims to face Juan Francisco Estrada, the king of the 115-pound division. Rodriguez's victory has positioned him as a major attraction in the star-studded 115-pound division, setting the stage for potential blockbuster matchups in the future.