Jesse Rodriguez stops Antonio Vargas to claim WBA bantamweight title
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez stopped Antonio Vargas with a brutal sixth-round knockout in Arizona to win the WBA bantamweight title and become a three-weight world champion.
The undefeated 26-year-old dropped his American compatriot in the fourth round before finishing the contest with a devastating straight left hand at the Desert Diamond Arena.
Victory elevates the San Antonio native to a flawless professional record of 24 wins, with 17 coming by way of knockout.
This spectacular performance has immediately intensified calls for a highly anticipated superfight against Japanese pound-for-pound star Naoya Inoue.
Inoue superfight looms for undefeated champion
“I’m ready for whoever, whenever,” the newly crowned bantamweight king said following his sixth consecutive stoppage victory.
“Put them in front of me and I’m going to say yes.”
Trainer Robert Garcia had previously suggested a preparatory bout might be necessary before challenging Inoue, but promoter Eddie Hearn believes this dominant display accelerates the timeline.
Making his divisional debut, the former super-flyweight titleholder showed no reluctance to stand and trade punches with a naturally bigger opponent.
Rodriguez overcomes bigger opponent to secure stoppage
Despite absorbing accurate shots from a fighter who had suffered knockdowns in recent outings, superior footwork allowed the Texas-born star to systematically break down his opposition.
A short overhand left heavily floored Vargas in round four, though he gamely survived the count to briefly continue the contest.
The concluding sequence arrived two rounds later when Rodriguez unleashed a flawless four-punch combination to permanently end proceedings.
“He was tougher than I thought,” the victorious world champion admitted.
Hearn predicts victory against Japanese great
“Even after that first knockdown, he got up, and he was fighting like it never even happened.”
While unifying the division against WBO titleholder Christian Medina remains a viable option, Matchroom Boxing is firmly focused on securing a blockbuster clash with Inoue.
“After Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury, ‘Bam’ vs. Inoue is the biggest fight in the sport, no doubt.”
“There’s no one on this planet who’s beating ‘Bam’ Rodriguez at 118 or 122 pounds, not even Naoya Inoue.”
Eddie Hearn
