Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez vs Phumelele Cafu Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

One of the most thrilling pound-for-pound stars in boxing, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez could have three of the four titles needed toward achieving super flyweight undisputed glory before the year is over.

 

Rodriguez, the WBC super flyweight world champion, will fight South African boxer Phumelele Cafu, the WBO titleholder, at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas on Saturday night, live on DAZN.

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Rodriguez, 25, already has another fight scheduled at the Ring IV event on November 22, when he will clash with WBA super flyweight champ Fernando Daniel Martinez.

‘Bam’ ended his 2024 campaign by producing a scintillating third-round TKO of Pedro Guevara in November, marking his first defense of the WBC and The Ring super flyweight titles, while bringing his record to 21-0 with 14 KOs.

A few weeks prior, Cafu scored a split-decision win over Japan’s Kosei Tanaka to snatch the WBO championship. This weekend, Cafu (11-0-3, 8 KOs) will be fighting in the United States for the first time.

All being said, stakes could not be higher for Rodriguez vs. Cafu, so DAZN News decided to analyze the keys to victory for both 115-pound champions heading into their unification bout.

Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’ keys to victory

Apply pressure, cut the ring in half

At 25, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez is one of the best in boxing at applying pressure and cutting the ring in half.

His ability to walk opponents down limits their mobility and affords Rodriguez the opportunities to reach deep into his bag of sharp tools in surgically — and many times emphatically — dismantling them.

Against Phumelele Cafu, ‘Bam’ will look to not make an exception.

Split Cafu’s guard with a straight shot

In this southpaw vs. southpaw matchup, Rodriguez’ ability to split Cafu’s guard will be key.

And he should look to do it with a straight right or left hand. After all, a straight left in cramped quarters dropped Guevara in the third round, setting him up for something even more devastating.

Similarly, consistently poking through Cafu’s guard with straight shots could very well leave the South African fighter vulnerable for something a whole lot more damaging to be detonated, too.

Crank the uppercut

What makes uppercuts from ‘Bam’ so devastating is they can be launched with power from either his left or right hand.

Go back and watch a sample size of this in the way he dispatched Guevara. At roughly the halfway mark of the third round, Rodriguez used some range-finding rights to absolutely sit on and unload a cranking left uppercut which landed flush on Guevara’s chin.

Before the bell could toll on the round, ‘Bam’ created an opening to unleash a hellacious right uppercut for the TKO.

If ‘Bam’ is first to land his uppercut — with either hand — Cafu will likely be in serious trouble.

Phumelele Cafu’s keys to victory

Make early deposits to the body

From Rodriguez’ dominating victory over Guevara last fall, Cafu can extract and build upon the fact that the WBC super flyweight champion’s body can be hit with succession.

It is up to Cafu to make early deposits and overall commitment to Rodriguez’ midsection in attempt to lessen the ‘Bam’ of his punches and perhaps even hinder his movement around the ring.

Launch the counter left hook

Watch Cafu’s win over Tanaka from October and you will see a southpaw capable of making opponents pay with an instant counter left hook.

This weapon might be necessary to unload against Rodriguez in hopes of keeping him honest and checking him for the forward fighting that he does so well.

Using Rodriguez’ aggression against him with an instant counter left hook could also give ‘Bam’ some food for thought as he works his way inside.

Don’t get too erratic

While Cafu is encouraged to throw his counter left hook, he must do it with precision.

Coming up empty with his counters, the way he did against Tanaka several times, could spell doom against an explosive puncher like ‘Bam.’

Keeping his counters compact are key as Cafu cannot afford to swing and miss erratically against a pound-for-pound talent like Rodriguez who will be sure to make him pay and take his WBO title in the process.

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