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Rodriguez "Thankful" For ESPN Fighter Award
Jesse Rodriguez says he feels ‘thankful’ to be named as the
Fighter of the Year by ESPN in their midyear awards for 2022
– but the WBC World Super-Flyweight champion is not resting
on his laurels and continue his sensational year when he
defends his title against Israel Gonzalez on Saturday
September 17 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, as
co-main event to the trilogy clash between Saul ‘Canelo’
Alvarez and Gennadiy ‘GGG’ Golovkin. The event, presented by
Matchroom, Canelo Promotions and GGG Promotions, will
broadcast live on DAZN Pay-Per-View in the U.S. and Canada
as well as around the world on DAZN (excluding Mexico, Latin
America, and Kazakhstan).
Rodriguez (16-0 11 KOs) has enjoyed a stellar first half of
the year, starting by becoming the youngest active World
champion in February, stepping in late to meet Carlos
Cuadras for the vacant WBC strap in Phoenix and then putting
on a stunning display in his first defense, stopping Thai
star Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on his San Antonio home turf in
June inside eight rounds.
‘Bam’ extended his promotional pact with Eddie Hearn
following the win over Rungivisai, and now defends his title
for the second time against Mexican Gonzalez (28-4-1 11
KOs), who challenges for World honors for the fourth time in
his career.
Rodriguez has begun camp at home and will relocate to Robert
Garcia’s California base when his trainer and manager
returns from masterminding Anthony Joshua’s rematch with
Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on August 20. The 21 year old
is ready to thrill on the biggest of stages on September 17,
and believes it could be the next step in securing Fighter
of the Year awards across the board.
“I’m so thankful to be named ESPN’s fighter of the year,”
said Rodriguez. “My hard work and dedication to the sport is
paying off. That is why I’m able to perform the way I have
been. There’s so much more to come and I can’t wait.
“I’ll be starting my camp in San Antonio for this next
fight. I’ll be here for three weeks then finish up in
Riverside at Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. Fighting so soon,
I feel like I haven’t lost a beat. I’m still in rhythm and
I’ll be more than ready for Las Vegas.
“The way people have been saying I’m front runner for
Fighter of the Year is motivation to get the job done. It’s
a blessing to even be mentioned with some of the greatest
boxers in the sport. But come September 17, there will be no
question who it belongs to.”
Rodriguez’s achievement was one of many as Matchroom
fighters and events dominated ESPN’s midyear awards. Irish
superstar Katie Taylor was named female fighter of the year
following her victory over Amanda Serrano in their epic
battle at Madison Square Garden in New York in April which
landed female fight of the year nod. Leigh Wood’s dramatic
final round KO win over Jamie Conlan in Nottingham in March
earned the WBA Featherweight king the KO of the year and the
battle was awarded men’s fight of the year, while Dmitry
Bivol’s triumph over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas in May took
the gong for upset of the year.
Rodriguez’s clash with Gonzalez is part of a stacked night
of action in Las Vegas, as Diego Pacheco fights for his
first pro belt when he meets Enrique Collazo for the WBC
USNBC Silver Super-Middleweight title and Austin ‘Ammo’
Williams taking on Kieron Conway for the vacant WBA
International Middleweight title, all leading into the third
installment of the classic modern rivalry between Canelo and
Golovkin, with the Mexican king putting his undisputed
Super-Middleweight crown on the line against Kazakhstan's
reigning WBA and IBF Middleweight ruler in the most
anticipated match up of 2022.
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