Rodriguez vs Martinez Predictions: ‘Bam’ stakes pound-for-pound claim

Pound-for-pounder Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez looks to unify his WBC super flyweight title with the WBA belt held by Fernando Martinez this Saturday, November 22. The unification clash takes place at Ring IV: Night of Champions inside Riyadh’s ANB Arena. DAZN pay-per-view will screen a bumper card that also features David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde, Brian Norman Jr vs Devin Haney and Abdullah Mason vs Sam Noakes. 

Read on for my Rodriguez vs Martinez predictions.

Rodriguez vs Martinez Odds

‘Bam’ is a big favourite here at 1/11 while Martinez, despite being an unbeaten world champion, has to make do with 7/1. If you fancy the draw, you can back the stalemate at 20/1.

Rodriguez vs Martinez Fight Preview

It has been a big year for the mythical pound-for-pound title in boxing. Consensus top three Oleksandr Usyk, Terence Crawford and Naoya Inoue have all kept winning and done so in style. But time waits for no man, even the seemingly superhuman ones. Usyk and Crawford are both 38 now while Inoue is 32. The P4P top-three will not be occupied by that trio for much longer.

One of the front runners to take over the mantle is pocket-sized phenom ‘Bam’ Rodriguez. The 25-year-old is already a two-weight world champion and two-time super flyweight champion, having dropped down to flyweight to collect the IBF and WBO belts before reclaiming his throne at 115lbs.

British fight fans will remember ‘Bam’ battling our own Sunny Edwards, who succumbed to the Texas southpaw in nine rounds two years ago. Other former or reigning world champions Rodriguez has beaten include Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Juan Francisco Estrada, Pedro Guevara and Phumelele Cafu.

It is not just the laundry list of incredible names that ‘Bam’ has beaten but how he has beaten these world class fighters. Take Jesse’s current run into account. In his last four fights he has knocked out every single opponent. Two were world champions defending their titles against him in unification fights. Estrada is bound for the Hall of Fame when he retires, hadn’t lost for seven years and had never been stopped at all. 

This is why an undefeated WBA super flyweight champion can come into a fight priced at 7/1 for a win. Martinez is 18-0 and a former unified champion, with his IBF title being stripped when he accepted a rematch with Kazuto Ioka.

Those two wins over Ioka in Japan were the making of Martinez. On away soil, he prevailed in two hard-fought battles against a man who has won 23 world title fights. Martinez had to climb off the floor in the rematch, but he battled his way to another unanimous nod. If that does not put fistic hairs on a pugilist’s chest, nothing will.

Martinez’s duo of victories over Jerwin Ancajas netted him that initial IBF belt and a growing reputation for performing on the big stage. Martinez was a mighty amateur, representing Argentina at the 2016 Olympics and winning bronze at the South American Games in Medellin in 2010. Martinez’s move to the pros was delayed by his desire to compete on the Olympic stage. But at 34, Martinez has reached the top of his industry.

But perhaps not the very top. While the Argentine has held two world title belts and never lost a pro fight, there is no argument over who the top man is at super flyweight. ‘Bam’ is the WBC, WBO, The Ring and lineal champion. He has ruled fearlessly and ruthlessly over two weight divisions. If you want the crown, you have to take it off the king’s head. 

Rodriguez vs Martinez Full Card

David Benavidez vs Anthony Yarde

Sam Noakes vs Abdullah Mason

Jesse Rodriguez vs Fernando Martinez

Brian Norman Jr vs Devin Haney

Vito Mielnicki Jr vs Samuel Nmomah

Mohammed Alakel vs Jiaming Li

Julio Porras Ruiz vs Pius Mpenda

Sultan Almohammed vs Umesh Chavan

Rodriguez vs Martinez Prediction

Against Ancajas and Ioka, ‘El Pumita’ went to war. Martinez boxed smartly but at times he was happy to fight fire with fire. Less Olympic schooling, more schoolyard scrap. It made for enthralling fights, but did expose a potential flaw.

‘Bam’ does not lose firefights. Whether you try and out-score him or out-war him, the diminutive dynamo has an answer. Ioka had Martinez on the mat in their rematch. The Japanese legend does not throw with the same wrecking-ball intensity as Rodriguez.

I think this fight will catch fire and Rodriguez might well catch strays. But ‘Bam’ knows how this goes by now. I’m taking Rodriguez to win by knockout at with our Price Boost at 11/4.

You can find all our latest boxing betting tips and analysis at our Betfred Insights Boxing page and our latest boxing odds here.