Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez returns on Saturday night, but he has been asked in the build-up to provide his prediction on the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford super fight.
‘Bam’ Rodriguez versus Phumelele Cafu takes place on Saturday night as the young star continues his impressive run of form.
Another WBC king in the form of Canelo has a big task of his own against the former two-weight undisputed champion Crawford.
The 25-year-old’s trainer, Robert Garcia, believes Terence has a ‘big’ chance to win in the fight, joining many of boxing’s biggest names in backing ‘Bud’.
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez favours Crawford in Canelo clash despite fan disapproval
Now, Rodriguez has provided a prediction of his own for the undisputed contest in Las Vegas.
Speaking in an interview, he said: “It’s a difficult fight, Crawford has his skills to box and stay on the outside, but Canelo has the power and size advantage, so it’s a very difficult fight to call.
“I’ve been saying that I favour Crawford, people don’t like it, but it is what it is I favour Crawford in this fight.”
Looking at the strengths of both fighters, the future Hall of Fame fighter gave his assessment of how either man can win.
Rodriguez said: “Crawford will have to box the perfect fight for 12 rounds. Canelo can change a fight with one punch, so it is a very difficult fight.”
Size has been one of many talking points for this fight, especially with Crawford opting against a rehydration clause, according to his trainer.
Few fighters have had success coming up two weight classes to compete and win, one such name is the returning Manny Pacquiao.
‘Bam’ Rodgriguez ‘100%’ focused on Cafu, even with Fernando ‘Puma’ Martinez fight confirmed
The Texan American is no stranger himself to going through the divisions, being a two-weight world champion who is already scheduled in for another unification bout after his next fight.
WBA super flyweight titleholder Fernando ‘Puma’ Martinez and Rodriguez are scheduled to compete against one another on November 16th in Saudi Arabia.
Questioned on whether the ‘Puma’ fight is a distraction from the challenge Cafu presents, he explained where his focus lay.
‘Bam’ said: “I’m 100% focused on Cafu, I’ve said in my past interviews that if I don’t get past Cafu, then I don’t get the Martinez fight.
“So, no attention paid to the Martinez fight right now.”
His South African opponent had a closely fought contest for the WBO belt against Kosei Tanaka, which ended in a split decision draw to the away fighter.
But a different task faces him this time, with the 21-0 star on a three-fight finish run, including a huge body shot KO over Juan Francisco Estrada.
The ‘Truth’ presents a different kind of puzzle as a straight boxer, but it is nothing the prodigy can’t solve in devastating fashion.