Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez is so committed to fighting Juan Francisco Estrada in June that he is already preparing to sacrifice his IBF and WBO flyweight titles.

In December the 24 year old produced his most impressive performance when he stopped the previously undefeated Sunny Edwards and established himself as one of the world’s finest fighters, but he will move to super flyweight to fight Estrada, 33, and knows that his days at 112lbs will therefore end.

Rodriguez moved to 115lbs in 2022 to challenge for and win the WBC super flyweight title against Carlos Cuadras, and while after two defences he moved down to flyweight for successive fights – the second with Edwards – his trainer Robert Garcia was already wary of his struggles to make weight. 

“He will never come back down again,” Garcia said. “He did 112 to become champion, and then the fight against Sunny Edwards was a big fight for him and motivated him to do 112 again.

“‘Bam’ was not going to do 112 again after he won [against Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez, the WBO] title, but Sunny Edwards motivated him by talking a lot and pushing us to take the fight. That was why he stayed at 112, but after that, we knew that we would not stay at 112 anymore.

“Estrada has the WBC title at 115, so we will be moving up in weight to challenge Estrada for his belt.

“He [Bam] does not want to fight if it’s not Estrada, which will be for June if it comes off. However, things are looking good, and I am waiting for a phone call from Matchroom to tell me that Estrada has accepted the fight. I think it is going to be in Arizona.

“Right now, it is not finalised, but I am already on board with Matchroom for Jesse’s next fight and have already agreed to everything. We are now just waiting for Juan Francisco Estrada, and we hope they [Matchroom] can finalise something pretty soon because that is the fight Bam wants.

“[Rodriguez’s baby daughter] is due next month, in April. So after that, we will begin the month after the birth for the fight in June.”

Edwards, 28, is reportedly in contention to next fight Adrian Curiel or Sivenathi Nontshinga.

“I would love to see him become champion [again] because before the fight, we did not like him so much due to what he was saying, but it was part of his game plan,” said the respected Garcia. “After the fight, though, he was the best. 

“I loved him. He was great and funny, and I invited him to my gym, but that is not me suggesting that I want to train him.

“I invited him so he could get ready for a fight, bring his trainers, and do some sparring because I think he can be the best at 112.”