WBA super flyweight champion Fernando Martinez questions why WBC champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez isn’t calling him out for a unification fight.
2016 Olympian Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) believes ‘Bam’ Rodriguez saw his win over Kazuto Ioka on July 7, and now he doesn’t want to fight him. In other words, the 24-year-old ‘Bam’ realized that it would be too risky of a fight for him. So, he’ll keep fighting older guys, like Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.
Fighting Fernando Martinez could possibly spoil ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’s money making career as he is well out maneuvered by the puppet masterEddie Hearn, one of the best in the business. Hearn has created a formula that matches Bam against a string of old lions, well known to die-hard boxing fans who have lost their fangs and claws due to advanced age.
Bam’s recent victories
– Pedro Guevara – 34
– Juan Francisco Estrada – 35
– Srisaket Sor Rungvasi – 37
– Carlos Cuadras – 36
Fernando wants ‘Bam’ to face him
“He saw me fight with (Kazuto) Ioka, and now he doesn’t call me anymore. Why don’t you say you want to fight me? After Ioka on December 31, I’m ready for you. Do you want to unite or not?” said Fernando Martinez to Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez.
It would mean a lot more if Bam Rodriguez were to fight Fernando Martinez next, but given how talented the Argentine is, it’s unlikely that Hearn will make this fight.
Bam had all kinds of problems in his battle against the young go-getter Israel Gonzalez on September 17, 2022. He won a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision in Las Vegas. That fight took a lot out of Bam, and he was lucky to get through it without getting knocked out.
Since then, Hearn ‘Bam’ Rodriguez has faced Cristian Gonzalez, Sunny Edwards, Estrada and Guevera. Those fighters were not as young and hungry as Israel Gonzalez.
Last Saturday, ‘Bam’ (21-0, 14 KOs) successfully defended his WBC 115-lb title, knocking out Pedro Guevara (42-5-1, 22 KOs) in the third round at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia.
‘Bam’ Rodriguez had a massive size and youth advantage over the 35-year-old Guevara and quickly dropped him twice in the third round to get the knockout. After the fight, Rodriguez talked about wanting to fight the 37-year-old Chocolatito next.
Martinez has a rematch with Ioka
Argentine Fernando (33) will fight Kazuto Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs) in a rematch on December 31st to clear up the controversy surrounding their previous fight on July 7th in Tokyo, Japan.
The scores for Martinez vs. Ioka
– 117-111
– 120-108
– 116-112
There was little doubt among fans who deserved the victory in the Martinez-Ioka fight last July, but the wide score of 120-108 tainted the result. Martinez will get a big payday in the rematch with Ioka, and that makes it worth it. It also allows Martinez to end the controversy of their previous fight.
