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Youngest world champion in boxing sends rival crashing to canvas with stunning one-punch KO to retain title

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Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez stunned his challenger Pedro Guevara with yet another highlight-reel KO.

The current youngest world champion in boxing and current pound-for-pound ranked ‘Bam’ Rodriguez returned to the ring in a WBC mandatory title defence.

Rodriguez proved why he is a pound-for-pound great
Mark Robinson/Matchroom
And his opponent only lasted until round three before hitting the canvas
Mark Robinson/Matchroom

It was to be an uphill battle for Guevara, being given little hope of beating the relentless 24-year-old super-flyweight champion, who had won all 20 of his professional fights to date.

And it proved to be that way, with Rodriguez closing the show with a stunning third round stoppage.

He dropped and concussed his rival with a stunning left hook, which was the beginning of the end for Guevara.

And it was a booming short right hand which saw the contest waved off, with his challenger back on the canvas and unable to deal with the frightening power.

Rodriguez had come into the clash on a frightening hot streak, having ousted Sunny Edwards and Juan Estrada in two notable stoppage victories.

And he began the contest immediately in the ascendency with Guevara already on the back foot as the tempo began fast and was dictated by Rodriguez from the opening bell.

It was clear from the very off that he would likely be too formidable a puncher and it came to the fore in the third round.

Rodriguez upped the tempo and showed why he truly dared to be great, as he dropped a crushing left hook which sent Guevara crashing to the canvas.

It was clear he had never been hit with power like it, and despite returning to his feet, was quickly sent back to the ring floor.

A short right uppercut landed in the corner as he chased the stoppage, and Guevara was declared out of the contest by the referee, who produced a halt to proceedings.

The contest was waved off after Rodriguez’s second frightening knockdown
Mark Robinson/Matchroom
Rodriguez now has big fights ahead of him
Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing

‘Bam’ could now have a number of options including a unification clash against undefeated WBA and IBF title holder Fernando Martinez.

But his pursuit will likely lead to big names including a shot against one od the division’s biggest superstars in Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez.

The pound-for-pound king is also keen to pursue an incredible showdown with fellow current great Naoya Inoue, who is the current undisputed king at super-bantamweight.

Promoter Eddie Hearn went on to tease a mega-fight for Rodriguez in Saudi Arabia, where boxing is currently thriving.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is bringing boxing’s best talent to the region, and Rodriguez could be next according to Hearn.

It would likely be the unification bout, but that could well provide the biggest platform and most lucrative offer for one of boxing’s most talented fighters right now.

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