Boxing
This is where Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez puts himself on the pound-for-pound list
Rodriguez vs. Vargas on DAZN - Saturday
Boxing’s pound-for-pound list hones in on the very best that the sweet science has to offer. If the sport was stripped of its weight classes, these are the fighters who would be left standing on their skills.
So, where does Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez put himself on the list?
“I have myself at No. 4,” Rodriguez told DAZN News during the buildup to Saturday night, when he will challenge for Antonio Vargas’ WBA bantamweight title for a chance to become a three-division world champion, live on DAZN.
“No. 1, I have [Naoya] Inoue, No. 2, I have [Oleksandr] Usyk and No. 3, I have Shakur [Stevenson].”
It’s an impressive list, no doubt. But here is something that ‘Bam’ has that the stars he placed before him do not — a streak of five electric stoppage victories over then-champions or former world titleholders.
It’s part of why the undefeated Rodriguez, 26, is also known as the ‘Legend Slayer,' a nickname he awarded himself. That nicknames have to be given by someone else? Possibly Rodriguez is an exception.
With a convincing performance against Vargas this weekend, Rodriguez might inch closer to a mega bout against his top-ranked fighter on his own P4P list in the ‘The Monster’ Inoue.
But in truth, unless prompted, Rodriguez probably doesn’t pay the pound-for-pound list much mind at all. He is appreciative of its sentiments, though.
“I don’t pay too much attention to it, but the little bit of attention I do pay to it, it means a lot to me just to be on the list with the other fighters who are on there as well,” Rodriguez conceded. “I think being on the pound-for-pound list, it’s bragging rights for all of boxing and something that motivates me to keep going and giving fans great fights.”
A chance to put some ‘Bam’ on ‘The Monster’ should be all the motivation Rodriguez needs to handle Vargas on Saturday night and make a splash up the P4P rankings.
Where should ‘Bam’ rank on the pound-for-pound list?
Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
I agree with ‘Bam’ Rodriguez at No. 4 on the pound-for-pound list, though my Top 5 has some restructuring from the rankings he offered. At No. 1, I, too, have Naoya Inoue, followed by Oleksandr Usyk. At No. 3, I have David Benavidez who is fresh off capturing a unified cruiserweight championship in dominant fashion. Then, rounding out my Top 5, I have ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and Shakur Stevenson. All are scheduled to change if Rodriguez gets his meeting with ‘The Monster.’
