1 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:05,919 Well, it's my great pleasure to be joined on our podcast today by Jesse 2 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:10,519 Bam Rodriguez, two division world champion looking for another title belt. Bam, 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:13,679 you're taking on what I consider, I guess a very stiff challenger, a 4 00:00:13,679 --> 00:00:19,320 future Hall of famer, frankly in the WBC Junior Bantamweight world champion Jan Francisco 5 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:21,480 Estrada. This is a fight I think a lot of people have been looking 6 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,719 forward to. He's the lineal champ, he's a WBC champ, Like I 7 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:28,760 said, future hall of famer. You're gonna face him June twenty ninth at 8 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:32,000 Footprint Center in Phoenix. It's the main event, live on his own. 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,840 Thank you very much for doing this. How's everything going, You're getting ready? 10 00:00:35,119 --> 00:00:37,280 I think this is the biggest fight you've had, I think in terms 11 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:40,320 of name recognition. Would you agree with that? Yes, sir, this 12 00:00:40,439 --> 00:00:45,200 is definitely the biggest fight, the biggest opportunity in my career. I've never 13 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:49,399 faced a fighter like Estrada, so I'm coming more than ready for this fight. 14 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:53,159 So let's go back a little bit in time to December when you had 15 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:57,679 what was probably your biggest win. I guess you had a unification fight against 16 00:00:57,719 --> 00:01:00,600 Sonny Edwards. You guys were fighting to unify the w BO and the IBF 17 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,000 Flyway titles. Uh bam, you had a spectacular performance at night. You 18 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:07,920 stopped him in the ninth round. Uh. You know, in a fight 19 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:10,400 that a lot of people liked going in thought, you know, it could 20 00:01:10,439 --> 00:01:12,760 go either way. Both guys very skilled, with a lot of possibilities in 21 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:18,400 terms of how it would unfold. What was your take on your performance, 22 00:01:18,439 --> 00:01:22,319 because you really you know, you took him apart and left no doubt with 23 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,680 a very emphatic victory. Yeah. I feel like I showed people I can 24 00:01:26,719 --> 00:01:32,680 box. A lot of people considered me the come forward fighter, but I 25 00:01:32,719 --> 00:01:37,719 was able to hang in there with his speed. So I mean, after 26 00:01:37,719 --> 00:01:42,519 that first round, I already knew it was gonna end in my favorite So 27 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,159 what took so long? I'm just joking. He was a tough fighter. 28 00:01:46,439 --> 00:01:48,400 I gave a lot of credit as Suney. He was a tough fighter. 29 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,840 He took some shots and he just he never stopped. So it was a 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,079 good fight overall. Yeah, I'm not knocking him. He showed a lot 31 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,480 of heart, like you said. Yeah, So the question is, so 32 00:01:56,519 --> 00:01:59,760 when you when you won that fight, you were able to unify the titles 33 00:01:59,799 --> 00:02:02,319 in the flyweight division. You had already been a champion previously in the junior 34 00:02:02,359 --> 00:02:07,040 bandomweight division, and so my question is when you won the fight, was 35 00:02:07,120 --> 00:02:10,360 always your intention to vacate and go back to junior bandon weight or were you 36 00:02:10,439 --> 00:02:14,840 looking around to see maybe what else there could be in terms of the business 37 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:19,719 and the legacy in the flyweight division. No, the plan was always to 38 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:23,879 go back to one twelve and win the WBO vacant and then I did that, 39 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:29,599 and I did want to unify with Sonny, so we ended up doing 40 00:02:29,599 --> 00:02:31,680 that. And I mean even in training camp, we already knew this was 41 00:02:31,719 --> 00:02:35,879 the last fight at one twelve. So after that fire, it was just 42 00:02:35,879 --> 00:02:38,759 time to move up. And when you decided to do that, was it 43 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:42,520 always sort of the plan as you discuss things with maybe with Eddie from Metroom 44 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:46,759 and Robert Garcia, was the target always to try to get the fight against 45 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:51,000 Estrata for the WBC belt, which used to be your title. Yeah, 46 00:02:51,120 --> 00:02:54,159 I'm not too sure on that. That's something Robert and Eddie probably can speak 47 00:02:54,199 --> 00:02:58,759 on, but you know, I'm a true fighter out fight. Whoever, 48 00:02:58,879 --> 00:03:00,919 if it was for any boat, I would have went in there and fight 49 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:05,039 him right away. But as was the strata because he was the biggest name. 50 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,680 I guess, was that the guy that you were looking at? Yeah? 51 00:03:07,759 --> 00:03:09,360 Yeah, No, Estrada is definitely the best fighter in the division, 52 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,960 and that's what I'm here to do. Fight the best fighters and just pick 53 00:03:14,039 --> 00:03:15,879 up belts along the way and come June twenty nine, that's what I'm going 54 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,439 to do. So, as I mentioned this the belt that you're going to 55 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,759 fight for. As you know, he's also the lineal champion because of his 56 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:27,520 victory over Roman Chocolate Tito Gonzalez in their trilogy fight. But the thing is 57 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,680 you you already had the belt, So I wonder is your mentality, like 58 00:03:30,759 --> 00:03:32,800 he's just borrowing it and you're going back to get it because he gave it 59 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,800 up, you know, back before you went back down to the flyweight division. 60 00:03:37,039 --> 00:03:39,000 How what is your assessment of that is it? Is it your mentality? 61 00:03:39,039 --> 00:03:42,240 You're going like the champ because you never lost that belt in the ring. 62 00:03:42,759 --> 00:03:45,960 Yeah yeah, I mean he's a champion, he has a beat, 63 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:47,319 he has the Ring magazine as well, so you know, you got to 64 00:03:47,319 --> 00:03:51,280 give him credit for that. But like I said, I'm here to collect 65 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,159 buds and beat names along the way, so I'm just here to take with 66 00:03:54,280 --> 00:04:00,639 mine. I think everybody who follows boxing knows the strata looks at him and 67 00:04:00,639 --> 00:04:02,199 says, man, he is a great fighter, truly, he's a future 68 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:06,319 Hall of Famer. But you're twenty four years old. He's thirty four years 69 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:10,639 old. There's no I don't think anybody would debate that he's in the twilight 70 00:04:10,639 --> 00:04:14,000 of his career, even though he's shown himself to be outstanding when he's been 71 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:16,800 fighting, and he's got a lot of hard fights along the way, being 72 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,160 a decade younger like you are, being fresher. How big of a role 73 00:04:20,199 --> 00:04:24,480 do you think that might play in this fight, especially you know, as 74 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:28,519 it gets deeper into what probably will be a tough fight. Yeah, that's 75 00:04:28,519 --> 00:04:31,519 a huge role, definitely, especially with the layoff he's been on I think 76 00:04:31,519 --> 00:04:34,600 it's in almost two years. I feel like that's going to play a huge 77 00:04:34,639 --> 00:04:39,079 factor in this fight. But I'm not leaning towards that. I know he's 78 00:04:39,079 --> 00:04:43,319 gonna come ready more than ever. I feel like he has a lot to 79 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:46,160 prove, a lot to lose as well, so I'm expecting the best. 80 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:48,800 Shota and I hope he's expecting the best. Bam Madriguez will be coming off 81 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:51,920 an eighteen month layoff, and it's not like his last fight was any kind 82 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:56,759 of easy pickings. That was I'm not mistaken. That was the third match 83 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,160 against Chocolatito Gonzalez, which is a very tough fight. He's been known to 84 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:04,279 be in some rough slug fests. I mean, watch his trilogy with with 85 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,759 with Roman, and you can watch plenty of other fights some guys. You're 86 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,319 familiar with quadras and surround V side people like that, and we know the 87 00:05:13,319 --> 00:05:15,720 type of fighter you are. We've seen you said you wanted a box again, 88 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:17,839 Sonny, but we've seen you brawl it out also with guys. Do 89 00:05:17,879 --> 00:05:21,800 you think that this can be anything other than at least some type of slugfest 90 00:05:21,879 --> 00:05:26,959 type of fight. Oh, I can see myself out boxing him. To 91 00:05:26,959 --> 00:05:29,319 be honest, I have a lot of skill. I showed that in the 92 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,240 Sunny fight, but I feel like I didn't show it to my full potential. 93 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,920 So I feel like this fight will make me a lot smarter, you 94 00:05:36,959 --> 00:05:40,920 know, saying no disrespect to him, but he didn't have the power to 95 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,680 keep me off of him. So I wasn't as cautious, but against the 96 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,360 Firelights Strout, I feel like I'll be more cautious, more elusive. So 97 00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:50,800 I feel like I'll show more boxing skills this far. Like based on his 98 00:05:50,959 --> 00:05:55,360 background, you probably go in even though obviously haven't felt his power yet. 99 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:58,560 I guess you look at the knockouts he's had and the types of opponents he's 100 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:01,079 face, and have the healthy respect for the probable power that you feel is 101 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:04,120 what you're saying. Yeah, of course, of course with a record like 102 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:08,600 as Jolie, you gotta respect power, whether it's real or not. You 103 00:06:08,639 --> 00:06:11,720 go in there with the mentality that he can, you know, knock me 104 00:06:11,759 --> 00:06:14,480 out. So, like I said, he's been in a lot of tremendous 105 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,839 fights, And I wonder you know, when you when you watch boxing and 106 00:06:17,879 --> 00:06:21,000 you think about what you may do in the future. Were you a fan 107 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,720 of this guy at some point before it even became a possibility, like, 108 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,959 Hey, maybe down the road I might fight this fighter. Were you watching 109 00:06:27,959 --> 00:06:31,079 his trilogy with Chocolate Tito? Were you a fan of his even before I 110 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:34,160 was professional, I was watching his fights, Like you said, against Charlotte 111 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,600 beat the Rungviside Quadras, I was watching those fights, and I wasn't even 112 00:06:38,639 --> 00:06:42,240 pro yet, so I would I wouldn't. I wouldn't say necessarily a fan, 113 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,720 but I did enjoy watching him. He put on a lot of great 114 00:06:44,759 --> 00:06:48,519 fights, So I honestly never saw as an amateur, never saw myself fighting 115 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:53,079 him. Once I started kind of thinking about fighting him, was when he 116 00:06:53,120 --> 00:06:56,519 started mentioning my name. When I beat Quadras, he kind of discredited my 117 00:06:56,560 --> 00:06:59,720 win against him and rung Viciz, So you know, it was just a 118 00:06:59,759 --> 00:07:02,759 matter of time before we met in the in the ring. So you mentioned 119 00:07:02,759 --> 00:07:05,720 some of the guys that he fought. Now, if you go back, 120 00:07:05,759 --> 00:07:10,040 like I guess, maybe over the last decade or so, the four big 121 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:14,079 names in this weight class and also from the flyweight division, because these guys 122 00:07:14,079 --> 00:07:18,000 have you know, moved up. Also is Wan Francisco Estrada, is Roman 123 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:23,120 Gonzales, it is Quadras, It is Swiss cat Sar Rugby Si. You've 124 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,879 beaten two of them. You've beaten Quadras and you've beaten Sir Rugby SI. 125 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,000 I know you think you're gonna beat a Strata come June twenty ninth. That 126 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,120 would leave like just one more guy out there, Roman Gonzalz that you would 127 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:36,839 not have faced He's coming back later this summer. I know that, mister 128 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:42,000 Honda. You know, your co promoter from Teaking Promotions is very close to 129 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,319 Roman. Obviously he has an affinity for you also, But do you think 130 00:07:46,399 --> 00:07:47,560 that and he's never shown an interest to make that fight, But do you 131 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,399 think that's a fight that maybe someday before Roman, you know, hangs him 132 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:55,720 up, that might also happen and you could potentially go four for four against 133 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:59,600 those four top notch guys. To be honest, I don't ever see it 134 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:03,040 happening, just because it Sarron was very respectful with this fighters, doesn't you 135 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,199 know, like putting him in with each other. So I don't ever see 136 00:08:07,199 --> 00:08:11,480 it happening, to be honest, would you like it? Yeah? Nah, 137 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:16,000 there's too much respect between us, and there's really no point fair enough. 138 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:20,079 A lot of people have or Jesse Bam Rodriguez rightfully so, in their 139 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:24,000 top ten pound for pound lists, especially after the way that you took care 140 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,959 of Sonny Edwards. A lot of people thought he would do a good job 141 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:30,240 boxing against you, But we just discussed as you took him apart, how 142 00:08:30,279 --> 00:08:33,360 important is that pound for pound list recognition to you? As a fighter. 143 00:08:33,399 --> 00:08:35,919 I mean, you've won the titles, and you've made a name for yourself. 144 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:39,919 You've been in the running for Fighter of the Year. But what's it 145 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:43,159 mean to you to be considered in that top ten pound for pound At this 146 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,399 point? It means a lot to me. Before I was even on the 147 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:48,039 list, I never really care for it care for it, to be honest, 148 00:08:48,039 --> 00:08:52,000 But once I was put on it, I came to the conclusion that 149 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:56,120 it is a huge accomplishment and it's something that I want to It's a list 150 00:08:56,159 --> 00:09:00,600 I want to stay on for the rest of my career. I know winning 151 00:09:00,639 --> 00:09:05,000 this fight will bump me up even higher, so I'm more motivated than ever 152 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,200 just being on that list and being mentioned with those top ten boxes on the 153 00:09:09,279 --> 00:09:11,559 list as well. Now I think about when you fight this fight. When 154 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:16,600 you fight in San Antonio, you've obviously been the big hometown favorite because that's 155 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,559 where you were from. When you're fighting somebody like Sonny Edwards who comes here 156 00:09:20,039 --> 00:09:24,399 to your country and fights in a largely Hispanic in front of a Hispanic crowd, 157 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,840 him being from England, obviously you're the big crowd favorite. But when 158 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:31,720 you go to Phoenix for this fight against Estrada. You're both Hispanic. He's 159 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:33,480 he's a from Mexico. He's got a ton of fans there. Obviously you've 160 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:35,519 got your fans here. I wonder who do you How do you think the 161 00:09:35,519 --> 00:09:37,919 house is gonna be? Is it gonna be a bam Ro Rodriguez house or 162 00:09:37,919 --> 00:09:43,480 a one Francisco Estrada house. I think it's more one Francisco Estrada house. 163 00:09:43,519 --> 00:09:46,559 There's a there's a huge Mexico game the next day, so I feel like 164 00:09:46,639 --> 00:09:50,559 there's gonna be a lot a lot of Mexican fans. They're gonna lean towards 165 00:09:50,639 --> 00:09:56,120 Strata just because you know, he's a he's born there, So I mean, 166 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,279 there's no there's really no problem with that. I have my people going 167 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:01,519 as well, so at the end of the day, it's us two in 168 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:05,879 the ring. The crowd doesn't really make a difference at on my end. 169 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:11,080 But you know that there's nothing, nothing to worry about. You're talking about 170 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,840 like, there's a soccer game, I guess going on. Yeah, yeah, 171 00:10:13,879 --> 00:10:16,759 it's a huge soccer game, got you, Okay? I follow boxing, 172 00:10:16,879 --> 00:10:18,519 not soccer, so sorry about that. Yeah, yeah, I don't 173 00:10:18,559 --> 00:10:22,360 even I don't know soccer, but they've been telling me that there's like a 174 00:10:22,399 --> 00:10:24,840 Mexico Verus Ecuador or something like that. Yeah, okay, yeah, all 175 00:10:24,919 --> 00:10:26,519 right, I just want to I want to wrap up with this. I 176 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:31,320 know that you obviously are going to focus and concentrate on taking on as Strata. 177 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:33,080 As we've discussed, we think we can agree that it's the on paper 178 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,559 anyway, the toughest fight that you've had. But I wonder, you know, 179 00:10:35,799 --> 00:10:39,799 what are your goals beyond winning this title and taking care of a Strada. 180 00:10:39,799 --> 00:10:46,080 And I wonder is it about unifying additionally within the junior bandamweight division with 181 00:10:46,159 --> 00:10:48,679 the other champions who are not maybe the most well known, at least not 182 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,840 on this side of the pond. Is it maybe moving up to bantamweight at 183 00:10:50,879 --> 00:10:54,080 some point to go for a title and get another weight class. There's some 184 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:58,000 good fighters there, Nakatani who's also with mister Honda Takuma in a way the 185 00:10:58,039 --> 00:11:01,320 brother of Noia in a way like it sort of like in your mind that 186 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,240 would is the pathway that you think is going to happen as you continue your 187 00:11:05,279 --> 00:11:11,240 career. Okay, so after this FI, I do have a rematch clause 188 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:13,519 with this Strata, So if that were to end up going through, then 189 00:11:13,519 --> 00:11:16,480 I would fight a Strata again, and then I would love to fight the 190 00:11:16,519 --> 00:11:22,399 winner of Ioka and Martinez. If the WBO presents itself, I would go 191 00:11:22,399 --> 00:11:28,360 for undisputed as well. But I mean I'm still brying. I'm only twenty 192 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,360 four years old, so I don't want to wait too long on that. 193 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,840 So I definitely will move up to one eighteen and see who's they're at the 194 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,200 time. But the immediate future then is one fifteen. Clean up that way 195 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,759 class as best as you can, and then to bantam weight. Yes, 196 00:11:39,759 --> 00:11:43,159 sir, And just one more thing, do you have a dream fight? 197 00:11:43,399 --> 00:11:48,360 I know you mentioned maybe Ioka, Martinez or you know, one of those 198 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,720 guys, but is there a name out there that that you're like, You 199 00:11:50,759 --> 00:11:52,360 know, man, I'd really love to fight that guy for the money, 200 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,440 the recognition, the titles, whatever the case may be. Yeah, I 201 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,559 would. I would love to fight in a way in Japan, you know, 202 00:12:00,039 --> 00:12:01,960 and we're actually in the same way class, not now obviously, but 203 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:05,799 down the line a few years from now. I would live that fight. 204 00:12:05,039 --> 00:12:09,120 Now you're talking that's a big time fight. Yeah, yeah, see how 205 00:12:09,159 --> 00:12:15,039 mister hand I likes that one mm h And just to the last question here, 206 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,080 do you think you can stop one Franco Strada. He's showing a durable 207 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,279 ten during his career and you got a good puncher. Yeah, he's a 208 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,360 great fighter. But I believe I do have what it takes. I'm not 209 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:26,080 going into the fight looking for it, but if it happens, it happens. 210 00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,639 But I just know in the back of my mind I do have what 211 00:12:30,759 --> 00:12:33,200 it takes. That sounds good. We'll leave it there, Jesse, thank 212 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,600 you very much for your time. Can't thank you enough. I wish you 213 00:12:35,639 --> 00:12:37,799 the best of luck in the fight. Thank you.