Unified junior bantamweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is set to ascend to bantamweight and will compete against WBA champion Antonio Vargas on June 13 in Glendale, Arizona, as announced by Matchroom Boxing on Friday.
Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) holds the No. 3 position in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings and has shown remarkable prowess in the junior bantamweight and flyweight divisions. He has finished his last five opponents by knockout, with Sunny Edwards, Juan Francisco Estrada, Pedro Guevara, Phumelele Cafu, and Fernando Martinez all succumbing to his skills. He aims to assert his dominance in a third weight category, beginning his bantamweight journey against WBA champion Vargas.
“New weight class, same goals – dominate and pick up all the belts,” Rodriguez stated. “On June 13, I look forward to becoming a three-division World Champion.”
Matchroom Boxing also revealed that they have secured Rodriguez with a multifight contract extension.
Vargas (19-1-1, 11 KOs) was recently promoted from interim champion to full champion after a scheduled bout with Seiya Tsutsumi fell through due to the Japanese fighter’s injury. He fought Daigo Higa to a draw last July but has remained unbeaten since suffering a knockout defeat to Jose Maria Cardenas in 2019.
“Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, and that’s exactly why I took this fight,” Vargas remarked. “These are the moments champions live for. I respect his skill, his IQ, everything he brings to the ring. I look forward to defending my WBA World title and I’m ready to prove that I’m one of the best fighters in my weight class.”
