Photos: Bam Rodriguez Fends Off a Determined Gonzalez To Retain WBC Title

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas – WBC Super Flyweight Champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (17-0, 11 KOs) won a twelve-round unanimous decision over Israel Gonzalez (28-5-1, 11 KOs) in a fight that was much tougher than expected. (photos by Ed Mulholland)

The scores were 118-109, 117-110 and 114-113.

A round of feeling to start the fight. The action resumed in the second with the action of giving and receiving. Rodriguez was pressing forward to win the third, but Gonzalez was targeting the body to push him back. Rodriguez moved from side to side and changed directions to throw punches.

Gonzalez was starting to really get into the fourth, with his biggest shots landing. Gonzalez stood his ground and began to come back with shots to the head and body. The fight was back and forth with the action heating up. By the sixth, Rodriguez was pushing hard and coming forward to push Gonzalez back. The two were exchanging good shots at close range, and both connected well. Rodriguez was connecting with the hardest shots, especially to the head.

The inside fight continued in the seventh, which benefited Rodríguez as they traded good shots. The eight began with a close exchange of fast blows. There was a clash of heads that opened a cut over Gonzalez’s left eye. The action was very close. Rodríguez matched González’s start and made things very difficult for him. He earned a point during the round for a low blow landed by Rodriguez.

Both came out strong in the ninth and were operating close range most of the way. The same thing happened in the tenth, as they were standing point-blank and exchanging shots. Rodriguez was connecting with the biggest punches. Rodriguez was giving Gonzalez the fight in the eleventh. He was really pressing forward and going after him with head and body shots. There was another low blow that dropped Gonzalez, but this time no points were deducted. In the twelfth and final round, they were both landing close. Rodríguez continued to hit the hardest, most flashy shots.