Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez of San Antonio got the phone call that could change his life. On Sunday Rodriguez was the newest member of the Matchroom Boxing and was preparing to fight a solid opponent in Fernando Diaz for a regional belt. No small task. That's when the San Antonian got the phone call that could change his life. He was informed that Srisaket Sor Rungivisai who twice beat the legendary Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez, was out of a world title fight with Carlos Cuadras, due to an illness and he was in. He would get his world title shot, one that even at just 22-years-old is long overdue for. It's just not a title shot it's a shot at a legend of the ring. One of the best and most exciting little men to have ever done it. It's also against a fighter two weight classes bigger than him. That's how confident Bam is and how confident his famed trainer Robert Garcia is and the rest of his team is in him. There was no hesitation to throw Bam in on short notice against a former world champ and legend of the ring that's two weight classes bigger than him on six-days notice. There is a mystique around the name Bam Rodriguez people don't just expect him to be a world champion they expect him to win multiple world titles in multiple divisions. He's one of a handful of fighters that represent the future of the sport. In simple terms "Bam is special". He gets to show the world just how special he is this Saturday at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Should he win, should he jump up not one but two weight classes and beat a potential future hall of fame, at just 22-years-old, Rodriguez would find himself in pound-for-pound discussions.
Also, on the card is Fort Worth's own Edward "Kid" Vazquez who, just like Bam, undefeated, but has taken a far different path. Vazquez found himself in a contract dispute that kept him out of the ring for prolonged periods. He finally got himself out of the contract. Signed with a new management company and got ready to fight. Then Vazquez ran into another issue, he had about half a dozen flights canceled due to the pandemic. One fight after another was postponed or canceled. "Kid" kept doing the only thing he knows to do. He kept fighting and he finally got his shot to shine. He got a fight on ESPN in the Top Rank bubble in Las Vegas. After a clean and impressive first round, the Fort Worthian found himself on the canvas and despite having just eight pro bouts got himself up, dusted himself off then controlled the final four rounds to take a decision over Adan Ochoa. He came back just two months later came back and on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr, Vazquez scored a thrilling decision victory in a fight of the year, non-stop, action-packed, eight-round war with Irvin Gonzalez to capture the WBC USNBC featherweight title. He has scored a few more victories in stay busy fights and again gets to play the role of underdog and spoiler. Raymond Ford had a spectacular amateur career and was one of Matchroom's most touted US prospects and after a brilliant start, he suffered a draw with Aaron Perez. He bounced back nicely and scored some quality wins but is now matched incredibly tough with Vazquez. The two unbeaten prospects have more than an "0”' in their L columns the winner will jump to the head of the line and could be in a position to fight for a world title later in 2022.