Jesse Rodriguez put on a considered and violent display to force a corner stoppage from Sunny Edwards and become unified flyweight world champion.
Arizona played host to a thrilling battle between IBF World Champion Edwards and the WBO’s Rodriguez, made much more exciting than some of the pre-fight predictions by the Brit’s propensity to stand and fight.
Many felt ‘Showtime’ could box and move to a points win, but he looked to get ‘Bam’s respect early and never quite got there.
The 23-year-old from San Antonio, Texas put in a career-defining performance, his ability to stalk and cut off the ring only matched by a skilful tenacity delivered through hellacious combinations.
When he caught Edwards throughout the first half of the fight, the IBF champ was intent on moving forward and scoring his own points – a valiant effort that made an excellent advert for the lower-weight classes, but not advisable against a power-puncher.
Sunny by no means wasn’t landing – in fact some of his counters were punch-perfect – but ‘Bam’s jab was always there as an answer to open up more opportunities.
By the seventh, Edwards had paid for his strategy with a cut on one eye and a huge welt on the other. Shots started to land easier for ‘Bam’, who, according to the punch stats, had out-landed his opponent in power shots by more than half.
With fifteen seconds to go in the ninth, a well-timed left hand caught Edwards moving to his right and sent him face-first into the canvas. He made it onto one knee and saw the end of the round, but the swelling painted a sorry picture.
Lord of the Flyweights@210bam dominated the majority of the fight and forced a stoppage before round 10 after this brutal knockdown.
What a display from Bam Rodriguez the new unified champ.#RodriguezEdwardspic.twitter.com/iXDlUSKtsj
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 17, 2023
Masterful 🥊
Ringside angle of @210bam before the end of the 9th.
Who do you want to see him fight next?#RodriguezEdwardspic.twitter.com/PXkiTLXL7U
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 17, 2023
After a quick word back in the corner with his fighter, trainer Grant Smith told the referee that the fight was over. Rodriguez collapsed to the floor in celebration, congratulated by Edwards soon after. After a spicy build-up, the Brit was very humble in defeat.
Rodriguez can say that it was his work that forced Edwards into that game-plan and not many will argue. A career-defining performance in his toughest boxing test. Edwards is elite, and Rodriguez systematically beat the fight right out of him.