After the fight: Jesse Rodriguez had his star-making moment

Jesse Rodriguez took a legend in Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and made him look like an amateur. Consider this ‘Bam’s’ announcement of his greatness. 

“My skills proved a point tonight,” Jesse Rodriguez said after his 8-round TKO victory of former super flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

Rodriguez’s words are mild considering the degree of the beating he gave Sor Rungvisai.

Even before their June 25 title fight, there was a serious buzz surrounding ‘Bam.’ Social media users sang his praises and set up monstrous expectations. Oddsmakers dubbed Rodriguez the favorite over Sor Rungvisai, but most didn’t expect such an extreme trouncing.

It’s easy to contemplate how such a gigantic moment could have gotten the better of Rodriguez. Yes, he’s the WBC world champion, but the 22-year-old is also the youngest boxing champion. With youth comes inexperience, but Rodriguez’s talent couldn’t be stopped by anything short of an act from God against Sor Rungvisai.

Boxing fans and pundits were unanimous in their post-fight praise of Rodriguez. He was nothing short of brilliant. Rodriguez doesn’t just possess incredible physical abilities. He also has confidence and a deep understanding of himself as a fighter and his career.

When he took down his first icon in Carlos Cuadras in February, Rodriguez experienced slight growing pains. He knocked Cuadras down in round 3 with a well-timed right uppercut, but much of the contest was a firefight.

Rodriguez traded with Cuadras and ate several hooks to the body and head. He looked too flatfooted. Something was lacking in Rodriguez’s defense. He walked away with a unanimous decision victory, but he also showed vulnerability.

Jesse Rodriguez elevated himself up the boxing ranks after his round 8 TKO of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai

Rodriguez learned from that fight, which is something not every fighter can do.

“The Cuadras fight gave me experience and put me here, fighting at home in San Antonio,” Rodriguez said. “I will do whatever Robert says. I am a special fighter, not an average fighter, and I am here to stay.”

Fighting Sor Rungvisai four months later in front of his hometown of San Antonio, TX, at Tech Port Arena, Rodriguez demonstrated that his cerebral powers are on par with his physical gifts.

Rodriguez matured as a boxer in front of the world on June 25. Knowing Sor Rungvisai possessed elite power for the super flyweight division, Rodriguez elected to give up ground.

As Sor Rungvisai slowly plodded forward in an attempt to deliver his potent payload, Rodriguez wisely pivoted backward. Moving backward gave Rodriguez space to work. He changed up his game plan from the Cuadras fight.

Rodriguez took advantage of his massive speed advantage over Sor Rungvisai. His combinations were too fast for Sor Rungvisai to process. As Sor Rungvisai moved forward, Rodriguez met him with a whipping one-two that stung.

After connecting, Rodriguez used angles to dance around a befuddled Sor Rungvisai majestically. Rodriguez looked like he could teleport. One second he was in front of Sor Rungvisai, then a few quick plants off his right lead toe, he was to Sor Rungvisai’s right, pelting him with stiff shots.

The usually stout chin of Sor Rungvisai fell victim to Rodriguez’s relentless, calculated assault. Sor Rungvisai dropped in round 7 and got up, but needed to be saved, which the referee did.

“I felt I started to break him down after three rounds. The power wasn’t there from him,” Rodriguez said after the fight. “I knew I couldn’t stand there, but we came in and put on a show. I was using my angles more. Robert kept telling me to do that, and I listened.”

Rodriguez perfectly implemented every part of his strategy. He likely retired the great Sor Rungvisai, and he did it with a total package of tools–power, speed, defense and intelligence–and all at the age of 22 years old.

Floyd Mayweather was 21 when he thrashed then-champion Genaro Hernandez for the round 8 TKO in 1998. People knew from that moment on that Mayweather wasn’t just great but that he was destined for legendary status.

That’s the type of performance Rodriguez had against Sor Rungvisai. There’s no predicting the future, and nothing is guaranteed, but fate would have to come crashing down on Rodriguez to prevent this young man from turning out a storied boxing career.