Ask Americans, who have increasingly turned away from the sport in last quarter century, what would entice them back to the sport, they'll invariably say some combination of the best in the world facing each other; exciting fights; significance and affordable tickets.
Yet, even when that's the case, as it is with Saturday's super flyweight world title bout between champion Juan Francisco Estrada and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, the fight often gets overlooked. Estrada and Rodriguez are among the 10 or 20 best fighters in the world. Their bout is for Estrada's WBC and The Ring belts. Tickets at $100 remain available for a match that has all the makings of a Fight of the Year battle.
Yet, it's largely ignored by the media and there isn't a lively presence online about the bout, which is streaming on DAZN.
Rodriguez once held the WBC super flyweight belt, but dropped to flyweight to pursue a belt there. But when a fight with Estrada, a man he'd grown up watching and idolized, became available, he couldn't say yes quickly enough.
"Growing up, I was still an amateur watching his fights against Chocolatito [Gonzalez], [Sor] Rungvisai and [Carlos] Cuadras, so to share the ring with him is an honor," Rodriguez said. "But that all goes out of the window on Saturday. He’s trying to take my ‘0’ and I’m not going to let that happen."
For years, Estrada has been putting on entertaining bouts against some of the greats of his era. Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez and Estrada first met in Los Angeles in 2012 and their rivalry defined the generation. Gonzalez, one of the greatest fighters to compete in the 21st century, defeated Estrada by unanimous decision in 2012 only to come back in 2021 and 2022 to win a split decision and majority decision, respectively, to go ahead in the series.
He's 44-3 with 28 knockouts and though he's 34, which is ancient for a 115-pounder, he proved in that Dec. 3, 2022, bout against Gonzalez that there is plenty left in the tank.
Rodriguez was inspired by Estrada and by many of the fighters who in recent years have started to unify the titles. A win over Estrada would set him up for some big fights down the line.
"Seeing all the fighters that have become undisputed in the last few years, holding all the belts in the ring, it’s very motivating to me," Rodriguez said. "To be undisputed at 115 pounds would be a great accomplishment. I think that there is a rematch clause after this fight, so I would rematch Estrada, but then say I win, I want to go for the other belts. The Ring Magazine is a very popular belt and not every fighter has the chance to fight for it. It means a lot to me, and I can’t wait to hold it."
Rodriguez defeated both Rungvisai and Cuadras when he held the super flyweight belt, and they now serve as sort of a motivator for him.
He wasn't happy with the way Estrada characterized his performance in those fights, and so he's eager to show Estrada up close how good he truly is.
“This is a very important fight for me,” Rodriguez said. “When I had that WBC belt before, he said a few things discrediting my wins against Cuadras and Rungvisai, so that, on top of fighting for his world title, makes it as big as can be. I just know I’m going to have my hand raised, by KO or on points.
“I wouldn’t call it personal to the point where I am mad about what he said, but he I do want to prove him wrong and show him that I am the truth, the real deal, and on Saturday, he’s going to see."