Boxing
Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez destroys Fernando Martinez with sensational knockout, dedicating win to newborn son
Ring IV Benavidez vs Yarde on DAZN PPV - NOW
Jesse Rodriguez was boxing a shutout against Fernando Martinez, winning every single round … and then he lowered the ‘Bam!’
Changing levels, ‘Bam’ Rodriguez exploded upwards with a left hook that caught Martinez across the jaw for an electric 10th round knockout Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View.
Just like that, Rodriguez put the exclamation point on Ring IV: Night of Champions’ only unification bout, snatching Martinez’ WBA super flyweight world championship, adding it to the WBC and WBO titles he entered the ring with.
The dynamic 25-year-old Rodriguez (23-0, 16 KOs) is now one title away from reaching undisputed glory at 115 pounds.
With nimble footwork, clever angles, piercing punch selection and placement in an all-around package of sweet science brilliance, Rodriguez showed he is levels above Martinez in an absolute boxing masterclass. And it didn't take long for Rodriguez to know he's the superior fighter.
Rodriguez told DAZN’s Claudia Trejos that he knew he had Martinez’ number “after round one.”
As triumphant as the victory was, it was also bittersweet as ‘Bam’ missed the birth of his son this week, while preparing for the fight in Riyadh.
“Honestly, I could cry right now because that’s the birth of my son and I missed it to be here,” Rodriguez told Trejos after his win. “It’s hard for me but it paid off. [My son will] understand when he’s a little bit older. I did it not only for him but for my daughter as well.
“I love my family a lot,” he added. “This one’s for them.”
