Rodriguez vs. Gonzalez Fight Results: ‘Bam’ Wins WBO Flyweight Gold
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez becomes a two division champion by earning a unanimous decision over Cristian Gonzalez.
Another stacked night of boxing action has concluded. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez did battle earlier tonight inside the Boeing Center at Techport, San Antonio, Texas. The bout was contested for the vacant WBO flyweight Championship.
April 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jessie Rodriguez celebrates his win over Cristian Gonzalez at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Rodriguez was looking to pressure early in the fight. Gonzalez was able to get some clean shots while his opponent was moving in. Rodriguez targeted the body in the opening round and was successful in that department.
Rodriguez’s pressure was relentless in the second round, and it allowed him to land a bevy of body shots. Rodriguez also went upstairs, and it was clear he had the advantage in punching power.
Big shots from Bam Rodriguez 😮💨#RodriguezGonzalez pic.twitter.com/Isl7rZOxY4
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) April 9, 2023
Gonzalez was showing some moxie in the third round, landing some decent shots and moving around. He continued to switch from the southpaw stance to orthodox. Rodriguez kept his focus on the body, then landing on the head. A big right hand stunned Gonzalez near the end of the round.
The story was more of the same until end of the seventh round when Gonzalez turned up the offense. Rodriguez continued to have his way pressuring Gonzalez, who kept eating shots and even had sprinkles of success here and there. There was a question of whether or not an off-balanced “Bam” was knocked down in the 11th round, but the referee called it a trip. Ultimately, Rodriguez was crowned the new WBO Flyweight Champion via unanimous decision.
Result: Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez def. Cristian Gonzalez via unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 116-112)
Marlon Tapales scores upset split decision victory
April 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Marlon Tapales celebrates his win over Murodjon Akhmadaliev at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev was also in action tonight, putting the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight gold on the line against Marlon Tapales.
There wasn’t much action to speak of in the opening frame. Things picked up in the second stanza, as Tapales connected with an uppercut that caught his opponent’s attention. Akhmadaliev still didn’t get things going by the end of the third round. He began to make it a firefight in the fifth round. Tapales’ right hand busted the nose of Akhmadaliev.
Akhmadaliev stunned Tapales momentarily with a right hook in the seventh round, but Tapales moved forward and continued to land power shots. As the fight went on, Akhmadaliev closed the gap. A left hand broke through Tapales’ guard in the 10th round.
April 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Marlon Tapales during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
A lot of Akhmadaliev’s success down the stretch had to do with his snapping jab and overhand left. He nearly knocked Tapales down in the final frame, but Tapales avoided danger and the fight went to the scorecards.
In the eyes of two judges, Akhmadaliev’s late rally wasn’t enough. Tapales captured the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight titles via split decision.
Result: Marlon Tapales def. Murodjon Akhmadaliev (c) via split decision (115-113, 110-118, 115-113) – Tapales wins WBA and IBF Super-Bantamweight Titles
Raymond Ford impresses with UD victory
April 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Raymond Ford walks back to his locker room after his win over Jessie Magdaleno at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Before the first major world title fight took place, the WBA Continental Americas featherweight championship was at stake. Ford, the titleholder, took on challenger Jessie Magdaleno, a former WBO junior featherweight champion.
Ford looked to establish his reach and rhythm early in the fight. He put together some sharp combinations in the second stanza. A big left hand from Magdaleno found the jaw of Ford, but it didn’t seem to faze the titleholder.
April 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Raymond Ford and Jessie Magdaleno during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Magdaleno struggled to get inside, allowing Ford to pick him apart on the outside. Ford scored a knockdown in the fourth round, and then another in the 11th. The fight went the distance and it was quite clear that Ford would have his hand raised.
Result: Raymond Ford (c) def. Jessie Magdaleno via unanimous decision (119-107, 119-107, 116-110) – Ford retains WBA Continental Americas Featherweight Title
