WBC Special Preview: Rodriguez vs Cafu
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Super Flyweight World Championship
July 19, 2025 / Frisco, Texas / The Ford Center at The Star
MATCHROOM BOXING PRESENTS:
JESSE “Bam” RODRIGUEZ (USA)
· WBC Super Flyweight World Champion (2-time), 4th Defense
Age: 25 / Date of birth: January 20, 2000
Residence, birthplace: San Antonio, Texas
Record: 21-0, 14 KOs / Total rounds: 113 / World championship fights: 7-0, 4 KOs
Height: 5’4” – 163cm / Reach: 67” – 170cm / Stance: Left-handed
Manager, trainer: Robert Garcia
PHUMELELA “The Truth” CAFU (South Africa)
· WBO Super Flyweight World Champion
Age: 26 / Date of birth: July 29, 1998
Residence, birthplace: Duncan Village, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Record: 11-0-3, 8 KOs / Total rounds: 85 / World championship fights: 1-0, 0 KOs
Height: 5’6” – 168cm / Reach: 64” – 163cm / Stance: Left-handed
Manager, trainer: Colin Nathan
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 – 2022
32. Juan Francisco Estrada (Mex) 2022 – 2024
33. Jesse Rodriguez (US) 2024 –
* Regained
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)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER FLYWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
26 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, eight of whom have regained the title: Rafael Orono (Venezuela), Gilberto Roman (Mexico), Masamori Tokuyama (Japan), Vic Darchinyan (Australia), Tomas Rojas (Mexico), Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thailand), Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico), Jesse Rodriguez (USA).
123 super flyweight world title fights have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC SUPER FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Nov. 9, 2024 Jesse Rodriguez TKO3 Pedro Guevara – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 29, 2024 Jesse Rodriguez KO7 Juan Francisco Estrada – Phoenix, Arizona
Dec. 3 2022 Juan Francisco Estrada W12 Roman Gonzalez – Glendale, Arizona
Sep. 17, 2022 Jesse Rodriguez W12 Israel Gonzalez – Las Vegas, Nevada
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
The Bamming Truth
By James Blears
An intriguing interwoven, mesh and clash of styles, when WBC super-flyweight Champion Jessie ‘’Bam’’ Rodriguez takes on WBO Champion Phumelele Cafu on Saturday July 19th at the Ford Center at Star Frisco in Texas.
It`s hotshot against longshot, but Phumelele, from South Africa who`s fought most of his battles in East London, has already confounded and contradicted the critics. Venturing outside his homeland for the first time, he handily defeated then champion Kosei Tanaka last October in for him, the hinterland of the Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku, Tokyo, knocking him down with a peach of a counter right in round five and going on to win by a hard-earned, but well deserved SD victory. Kosei was a four- division champion. The magnitude of this victory was no fluke.
Phumelele who was born in the village of Duncan, in the Eastern Cape and lives there to this day, has already earned himself a place in history with his melodic fists. The lilt of the Paul Simon Song entitled Duncan, blasts forth with the line: ‘’Even now the sweet memory lingers. I was playing my guitar under the stars, just thanking The Lord for my fingers.’’
Phumelele audaciously but astutely, logically and calmly reasons: ‘’People think Jessie is a bogeyman. But no one is unbeatable. I`ll prove them wrong and I`ll be king of this division.’’
His coach Colin ‘’Nomakanjani’’ Nathan reasons: ‘’Jessie is accurate and he has good defence.’’ And Plumelele chips in, chiming with adroit timing: ‘’But I`m expecting him to bring it to me, because he doesn`t seem comfortable going backwards.
‘’I`m so happy. This is amazing. I never thought one day I would get to unify the titles. It doesn`t get any bigger than this,’’ noting: ‘’On fight night, I`ll be on song.’’
Referring to Phumelele`s surprise victory in Japan, Jessie who is the Pride of San Antonio, plainly states: ‘’I`m a different fighter. He won`t be able to do the same to me. These are the kind of fights which motivate me to my full potential and make me prepare ten times harder. I can`t wait to fight in front of my home State fans. These type of fights, bring out the very best in me.’’
Two fights ago, Phumelele won the vacant IBF international super-flyweight title over Genisis Libranza by UD in South Africa. His breakout fight came in Japan against Superstar Kosei Tanaka, confounding the odds. He`s a good boxer and a particularly clever, patient and cunning counter puncher, who will be looking to spear and skewer an incoming Bam, punishing any carless, flailing mistake. Curb your enthusiasm?
This happened, albeit briefly, when Bam took on and stopped Juan Francisco ‘’Gallo’’ Estrada for the WBC title at the Footprint Center. He dropped Gallo in round four, but Gallo retaliated, dropping plus leaving a handprint on him in round six, before he composed himself and took out Gallo with a hellacious body shot one round later, and the older man who hadn`t fought in eighteen months, prior to this, was unable to beat the count.
Every time I look at the deceptively mild bespectacled youthful countenance of Jessie James Rodriguez Franco, I`m reminded of Dexter Riley from the film The Computer Wore Tennis shoes. But Jessie doesn`t need a jolt of lighting to imbue him with the precision of computer input calculation. He`s a gifted natural and possesses inborn God granted power. He`s also adapt at successful calculated risk taking, and as hard as nails when the going gets tough.
Opportunity came knocking early in his career, when he was on the undercard of Cuadras Vs Sor Rungvisai. He was supposed to be contesting the WBC USNBC flyweight title against Fernando Diaz. When Srisaket withdrew at short notice due to illness, Jessie jumped at the chance and waded in, surgically knocking the ‘’Medicine Man’’ down in round three with a right uppercut and dominating him to win a superb UD, to become the youngest world champion, at that time.
He then stopped Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in round eight, defeated Israel Gonzalez by UD, and vacated to go back to flyweight. His biggest and most painful test of grit and resolve, came when suffering a broken jaw in round six against Cristian Gonzalez for the vacant WBO flyweight title, which Junto ‘’Big Bang’’ Nakatani had vacated to move up in weight.
Another impactful performance to knock down Sunny Edwards in the ninth and stop him in the same round, fracturing an orbital bone earlier in the fight, so the brave Sunny was seeing two of him. In so doing, Jessie added the IBF version of the flyweight Championship to his WBO version. Then onwards and upwards, to super-flyweight, dispatching WBC Champion Gallo Estrada, followed by a straightforward third round TKO of WBC Interim Champion Pedro ‘’Pedrin’’ Guevara, via two knockdowns in that doleful round. Amazingly and impressively he`s accomplished all of this and he`s still twenty- five years young. The best is surely yet to come.
Phumelele is five years older and although he is two inches taller, standing five feet six, his reach of sixty- four inches is three inches less than that of Jessie. His undefeated record is eleven wins, including eight KO`s and three draws. Jessie is 21-0, 14 KO`s.
Whoever wins this Unification will then move to take on the other champions in a quest to become Undisputed. Jessie muses and enthuses: ‘’Just to have all of the belts and be Undisputed, would mean so much to me. This is the first step.’’
As the proverb goes: ‘’The most important part of a journey is its first step.’’ Standing in the middle of the highway plum in his way, is Phumelele Cafu, who is determined to prevent him achieving: ‘’My way.’’
So, it`s going to be a freshet in Frisco. The moment of ‘’Truth’’ for Phumelele, pitting himself against the might of southpaw Bam.
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