WBO flyweight champion Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez will attempt to unify the titles when he challenges unbeaten Sunny Edwards for his IBF title at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on December 16.
Both fighters are at the top of their game, unbeaten and knocking at the door of being recognized as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. However, only one can emerge victorious.
WATCH: Jesse Rodriguez vs. Sunny Edwards, live on DAZN
Will that be “Bam” Rodriguez?
Perhaps.
Here’s what he’ll have to do to have his hand raised and earn a second world title at flyweight.
Rodriguez has surprisingly plowed through two elite players at super flyweight but Sunny Edwards presents a totally different puzzle for “Bam” to figure out.
While victories over Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai are extremely impressive, Edwards is a clear departure stylistically. Edwards is shorter, enjoys fighting off of the backfoot and he's a switch hitter. Rodriguez is taller, offensive-minded, and operates as a southpaw. The clash of styles is obvious but could also produce fireworks in one of the best matchups of the year.
There’s no denying that Sunny Edwards is a brilliant defensive boxer that the opposition struggles to land against. His ability to make his opponents miss and land crisp counters is the reason why he runs away on the scorecards. He routinely outclasses the opposition and watches them frantically reach desperation mode when the fight begins to slip away.
However, Sunny Edwards has never faced anyone like “Bam” Rodriguez.
Aside from the obvious power advantage, Rodriguez has a massive seven-inch reach advantage and some of the most underrated footwork in boxing. This combination of attributes represents things that Edwards hasn’t truly had to deal with during his reign as IBF champion. And Edwards' enormous self-belief may be the reason why he ends up losing this fight.
Edwards is going to prove to be a difficult target to find but Rodriguez should eventually catch up to his opponent in the middle rounds as the Brit enjoys lingering in the pocket for a lot longer than he should. Edwards has been dropped before and although he has never truly been hurt, getting knocked down by Rodriguez would be the last thing he wants to deal with in the fight.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Jesse Rodriguez vs. Sunny Edwards
Rodriguez enjoys wearing his opponents down with his pressure and power punching. And if Edwards is willing to give him the real estate to operate, Rodriguez is eventually going to find his mark. His reach advantage will allow him to work from the outside, well out of his Edwards’ range.
The constant pressure should eventually slow down Edwards in the mid to late rounds, where Rodriguez’s power will come to the surface. As long as Rodriguez doesn’t allow Edwards to build a lead early and sticks to his game plan, then he should be able to wear him down with bodywork and pile up points with the harder shots.
Edwards is certainly going to have his moments but he’s going to have to impress the judges with clean punching to win rounds decisively, as a clean Rodriguez power shot will carry significant value on the scorecards.
Between the ever-looming potential for a knockdown and aesthetically pleasing power, Rodriguez will work his way into a unanimous decision victory to become a unified flyweight champion.