WBC Special Preview: Jesse Rodriguez vs. Israel Gonzalez

WBC STATISTICS

WBC Super Flyweight World Championship

September 17, 2022 / Las Vegas, Nevada / T-Mobile Arena

JESSE “Bam” RODRIGUEZ (USA)

WBC Super Flyweight World Champion, 2nd Title Defense

Age: 22 / Date of birth: January 20, 2000

Residence, birthplace: San Antonio, Texas

Record: 16-0, 11 KOs / Total rounds: 70 / World championship fights: 2-0, 1 KO

Height: 5’4″ – 163cm / Reach: 67″ – 170cm / Stance: Left-handed

Manager, trainer: Robert Garcia

ISRAEL “Jiga” GONZALEZ (Mexico)

Ranked WBC No. 11 at Super Flyweight

Age: 26 / Date of birth: April 12, 1996

Residence, birthplace: Cabo San Lucas, Baja California, Mexico

Record: 28-4-1, 11 KOs / Total rounds: 195 / World championship fights: 0-3

Height: 5’6” – 168cm / Reach: 69” – 175cm / Stance: Right-handed

WBC SUPER FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

1. Rafael Orono (Venezuela) 1980 – 1981

2. Chulho Kim (Korea) 1981 – 1982

3. Rafael Orono (Venezuela) 1982 – 1983*

4. Payao Pooltarat (+) (Thai) 1983 – 1984

5. Jiro Watanabe (Japan) 1984 – 1986

6. Gilberto Roman (+) (Mexico) 1986 – 1987

7. Santos Laciar (Argentina) 1987

8. Jose Bebis Rojas (Colombia) 1987 – 1988

9. Gilberto Roman (+) (Mex) 1988 – 1989*

10. Nana Konadu (Ghana) 1989 – 1990

11. Sungkil Moon (Korea) 1990 – 1993

12. Jose Luis Bueno (Mexico) 1993 – 1994

13. Hiroshi Kawashima (Japan) 1994 – 1997

14. Gerry Peñalosa (Phil) 1997 – 1998

15. Injoo Cho (Korea) 1998 – 2000

16. Masamori Tokuyama (Jap) 2000 – 2004

17. Katsushige Kawashima (Jap) 2004 – 2005

18. Masamori Tokuyama (Jap) 2005 – 2006 *

19. Cristian Mijares (Mexico) 2006 – 2008

20. Vic Darchinyan (Australia) 2008 – 2010

21. Tomas Rojas (Mexico) (Interim) 2009

22. Vic Darchinyan (Aust) 2009 – 2010*

23. Tomas Rojas (Mexico) 2010 – 2011*

24. Suriyan Por Chockchai (Thai) 2011 – 2012

25. Yota Sato (Japan) 2012 – 2013

26. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thai) 2013 – 2014

27. Carlos Cuadras (Mexico) 2014 – 2016

28. Roman Gonzalez (Nic) 2016 – 2017

29. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thai) 2017 – 2019*

30. Juan Francisco Estrada (Mex) Franchise 2019 –

31. Jesse Rodriguez (US) 2022 –

* Regained

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER FLYWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY

25 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only six have regained the title: Rafael Orono (Venezuela), Gilberto Roman (Mexico), Masamori Tokuyama (Japan), Vic Darchinyan (Australia), Tomas Rojas (Mexico), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thailand).

120 super flyweight world title fights have been held in WBC history.

WBC SUPER FLYWEIGHT TOP 10 CHAMPIONS

1. Gilberto Roman (Mexico)

2. Santos Laciar (Argentina)

3. Jiro Watanabe (Japan)

4. Chulho Kim (Korea)

5. Cristian Mijares (Mexico)

6. Gerry Peñalosa (Philippines)

7. Sungkil Moon (Korea)

8. Rafael Orono (Venezuela)

9. Carlos Cuadras (Mexico)

10. Jose Luis Bueno (Mexico)

MEMORABLE WBC SUPER FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS

June 25, 2022 Jesse Rodriguez TKO8 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai – San Antonio, Texas

Feb. 5, 2022 Jesse Rodriguez W12 Carlos Cuadras – Phoenix, Arizona

Mar. 13, 2021 Juan Francisco Estrada W12 Roman Gonzalez – Dallas, Texas

Oct. 23, 2020 Juan Francisco Estrada TKO11 Carlos Cuadras – Mexico City, Mexico

Apr. 26, 2019 Juan Francisco Estrada W12 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai – Inglewood, California

Feb. 24, 2018 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai W12 Juan Francisco Estrada – Inglewood, California

Sep. 9, 2017 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai KO4 Roman Gonzalez – Carson, California

Mar. 18, 2017 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai W12 Roman Gonzalez – New York, New York

Sep. 10, 2016 Roman Gonzalez W12 Carlos Cuadras – Inglewood, California

May 31, 2014 Carlos Cuadras TW8 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai – Iztacalco, Mexico

Nov. 15, 2013 Srisaket Sor Rungvisai TKO9 Hirofumi Mukai – Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Feb. 7, 2009 Vic Darchinyan TKO11 Jorge Arce – Anaheim, California

Aug. 30, 2008 Cristian Mijares TKO3 Chatchai Sasakul – Monterrey, Mexico

Feb. 27, 2006 Masamori Tokuyama W12 Jose Navarro – Osaka, Japan

June 28, 2004 Katsushige Kawashima TKO1 Masamori Tokuyama – Yokohama, Japan

Jan. 2, 2000 In-Joo Cho W12 Gerry Peñalosa – Seoul, South Korea

Nov. 23, 1997 Gerry Peñalosa KO10 Young-Joo Cho – Seongnam City, South Korea

Jan. 18, 1995 Hiroshi Kawashima W12 Jose Luis Bueno – Yokohama, Japan

Nov. 13, 1993 Jose Luis Bueno W12 Sungkil Moon – Pohang City, South Korea

June 9, 1990 Sungkil Moon TKO8 Gilberto Roman – Seoul, South Korea

Jan. 20, 1009 Sungkil Moon TW9 Nana Konadu – Seoul, South Korea

Nov. 7, 1989 Nana Konadu W12 Gilberto Roman – Mexico City, Mexico

Apr. 8, 1988 Gilberto Roman W12 Sugar Baby Rojas – Miami Beach, Florida

May 16, 1987 Santos Laciar TKO11 Gilberto Roman – Reims, France

Mar. 30, 1986 Gilberto Roman W12 Jiro Watanabe – Hyogo, Japan

Jul. 5, 1984 Jiro Watanabe W12 Payao Poontarat – Osaska, Japan

Nov. 27, 1983 Payao Poontarat W12 Rafael Orono – Pattaya, Thailand

May 9, 1983 Rafael Orono W12 Raul Valdez – Caracas, Venezuela

Apr. 22, 1981 Chulho Kim W15 Jiro Watanabe – Seoul, South Korea

Feb. 2, 1980 Rafael Orono W15 Seung-Hoon Lee – Caracas, Venezuela

Bam Vs Jiga

By James Blears

Israel “Jiga” Gonzalez has already launched four attempts to become a world champion, and this fifth voyage of discovery against Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez will be a daunting sink or swim, at the T Mobile Arena in Paradise, on the same bill as Caanelo Vs Golovkin 111, on September 17^th, in the midst of Mexican Independence Day Celebrations.

To lead undefeated Bam (16-0, 11 KO`s) on a merry dance and hand him defeat, will be no easy feat for Jiga (27-4-1, 11 KO`s).  Southpaw Bam is a revelation a sensation and a superstar in the making. The new kid on the block. On just five days of notice, he took on Carlos Cuadras for the vacant WBC super-flyweight title, after Srisaket Sor Rungvisai fell ill. Bam also moved up a weight division to do so. The opportunity of a lifetime, which the young man seized with both hands guided by a cool head, to become the youngest title holder.

A cracking right uppercut put “The Prince” down mighty hard in round three and a superb marksmanship coupled with  a maturity beyond his years, earned Jesse a deserved UD, and meant that Carlos didn`t re-claim the  throne.  Then in his first defense, he took on the forbidding Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. A fellow southpaw, who`s renown for heavy hitting, the teak tough Thai, a two times champion, was systematically out-boxed and broken down, by the younger and fresher new champion. A left hook put “King Rat” down in the seventh, and a flurry of unanswered punches obliged the Referee to intervene, one round later, as Bam backed and rocked Srisaket into the ropes,  picking him off at will.

So now, fellow Mexican Israel “Jiga” Gonzalez gets the opportunity to take on Bam. Up to this point always trying to be the best man, and not yet the bridegroom, Jiga has had four attempts at glory, but fallen short.

Jiga`s first world title fight was for the IBF super-flyweight title against hard hitting Filipino southpaw Jerwin Ancajas, who overwhelmed him with a TKO in six rounds, back in 2018. That same year he did considerably better against Kai Yafai, with the WBA super-flyweight title at stake, losing a UD. He then audaciously took on Roman “Chocolatito”Gonzalez in 2020. Chocolatito who`d blasted out Kai,  dominated Israel to win a UD, but a great learning experience for the courageous Mexican, who took everything and kept firing back until the final bell.

In his next  attempt, he went into the lion`s den, travelling to Puerto Rico to take on Jose Martinez last year for the vacant WBO Bantamweight title. One Judge saw him winning, while the other two scored it  a draw. So near, but yet and still so far!

A guest at a recent Martes a Café, Israel was smiling and relaxed. Sean Gibbons, who`s the President of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, said Israel is capable of springing a mighty surprise, and will be able to capitalize on, plus draw upon a veritable wealth of experience.

Israel is an excellent body puncher. He has an accurate stiff left jab and fast hands. He`s a good boxer, who also loves to trade. Against Bam, who is a relentless pressure fighter, deviating away from iron discipline to indulge in a slugfest, would be a mistaken strategy. Bam is good at everything, but especially proficient close in. Israel`s best chance is to stay constantly mobile, use his jab, and keep it at long range. He`s taller and has reach advantage. But Bam has an unerring knack of hunting down, homing in on and targeting his opponent, going to work with a will…eye watering willpower.

There`s a tangible magic amounting to supreme pride when two Mexicans fight. Not a dull moment and an impactful intensity which is so very special. This one will definitely live up to that. Fifth time lucky, rewarding sheer persistence? Or dispatched via a bunch of fives?  A Jesse James Vs Israel showdown, sternly testing who`s quickest on the draw!