Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez vs. Fernando Martinez Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez already owns two of the four titles needed to reach undisputed glory at super flyweight.

Rodriguez could inch further toward that goal of being the outright ruler at 115 pounds Saturday night when he puts his WBC and WBO titles on the line against WBA champion Fernando Martinez in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and live on DAZN Pay-Per-View as part of Ring IV.

The 25-year-old Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) has produced four straight knockout victories including his sensational 10^th-round TKO of Phumelele Cafu in July. The pound-for-pound star will be up against a gritty Argentinian in Martinez (18-0, 9 KOs) who is fresh off back-to-back unanimous decisions over Japanese fighter Kazuto Ioka with his last win coming in their May rematch.

Will ‘Bam’ end his 2025 with a third piece to the undisputed puzzle? Or will Martinez pull off what would be a huge upset? With the stakes high for this champion vs. champion unification bout, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both Rodriguez and Martinez.

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’ Keys to Victory

Create open lanes with movement

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is as creative as you will find a star on boxing’s pound-for-pound list.

Revisit the way he finished Phumelele Cafu as your reference. With the South African showing plenty of guts and a granite chin, Rodriguez reverted to his movement as the final solution.

With his opponent trapped in cramped quarters, Rodriguez changed levels and got low, threw a foot fake like he was going to explode up with a left hook, only to rock Cafu’s jaw with a right hook. The shot wobbled Cafu and seconds later the referee stepped in to stop the action.

His nimble footwork and changing of levels should give Fernando Martinez fits.

Uncork timed counterpunches

Martinez naturally pressures forward and sometimes he does so a bit recklessly, getting too wide on his punch attempts and showing a lapse with the guard.

He does either against a skilled sensation like Rodriguez and the unified WBC/WBO champ will make him pay.

That is precisely why ‘Bam’ should lure Martinez in and use the Argentinian’s aggression against him by uncorking timed counterpunches that find their marks and spell real trouble for the WBA titleholder.

Step on the gas

Whether it is an early sequence where he could piece together combinations or sensing he has Martinez hurt, ‘Bam’ should mash the gas pedal and essentially bully the bully.

Martinez is used to his brand of persistent punching drowning out opponents via volume within his constant fighting flow. But one sharp counter could be all it takes for Rodriguez to lower the ‘Bam’ and take his title.

Fernando Martinez’ Keys to Victory

Keep a disciplined guard

When pressuring forward, Fernando Martinez often lowers his guard to chest level.

He cannot afford to have this kind of lapse against Jesse Rodriguez who is too skillful and will tax him with pointed counterpunching.

Therefore, Martinez must keep a disciplined guard.

Show educated pressure

Along the same lines of maintaining a disciplined guard, Martinez must show educated pressure. This means being less of a bull when fighting forward and attempting to smother Rodriguez with a high volume of punches.

Simply being more aware of his pressure could go long ways to letting Martinez being the fighter he is in this prime bout without leaving himself vulnerable by getting too reckless.

Punch in traffic

Martinez executes some of his best work in the pocket while punching in traffic as his incessant output manages to find a home across opponents’ jaws and on their temples.

The Argentinian did not make it to this unification bout to change who he is as a fighter and punching in traffic will have to be a major key in increasing his upset chances. However, like the two aforementioned keys before it, Martinez must exercise caution.

While throwing hands in congested lanes is a Martinez’ strength, it can quickly become a liability due to Rodriguez’ nimble footwork and changing of levels — both of which will give the WBA titleholder problems.

If Martinez is going to stand in the pocket and exchange, he must be practically forehead to forehead with Rodriguez, not giving ‘Bam’ a chance to create on his feet.

Even if that means resorting to the clinch, Martinez must press Rodriguez closely to have a shot at leaving Riyadh with three titles in tow.