WBC super flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez defends his belt against Srisaket Sor Rungvisai in the main event at Tech Port Center + Arena in San Antonio, TX on Saturday, June 25. The pair squares off in the scheduled for twelve rounds world championship bout live stream on DAZN. Tickets information is expected to be announced shortly. The date when the event airs live in the UK and Australia is Sunday, June 26.
In the co-main event Julio Cesar Martinez defends his WBC flyweight title in the rematch against McWilliams Arroyo. Also in action Murodjon Akhmadaliev defends his unified IBF and WBA super bantamweight belts against Ronny Rios. In addition, Jessica McCaskill defends her undisputed welterweight title against a to be announced challenger.
“It’s a quadruple header of world title action, with four bouts that could headline any card,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “I’m thrilled to see Jesse get the chance to headline at home as a World champion, and what a foe to face in the Thai legend Rungvisai.
“Martinez-Arroyo is a long-running saga that both men want to end in emphatic style, MJ is one of the very best world champions out there and is looking to produce that statement win to lure his fellow champions into unifications – and after an amazing run of fights for women’s boxing in recent months, which continues this weekend in New York with Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, the undisputed welterweight ruler will want to show that she’s one of the very best out there.”
Rodriguez defends WBC super flyweight title against Rungvisai
Rodriguez (15-0 10 KOs) makes the first defense of the belt he won in February, flooring former world champion Carlos Cuadras en-route to becoming the youngest current world champion in just his 15th pro-outing. ‘Bam’ will get a hero’s welcome on his home turf when he steps through the ropes in San Antonio for the first time as world champion and only the third time in his career, boxing on his doorstep in his third and fifth fights in June 2017 and March 2018 respectively.
The 22 year old could hardly face a stiffer test when putting his belt on the line for the first time, coming up against former two-time super-flyweight kingpin Rungvisai (50-5-1 43 KOs). The Thai star was set to face Cuadras in a long-awaited rematch for the title in San Diego, only for Rungvisai to fall ill and be replaced at late notice by the new young champion. The 35 year old has a chance to get his hands on the coveted green and gold strap for a third time, having first held the belt in 2013 and then reclaiming it against Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez three years later.
“Fighting a guy like Rungvisai is going to bring me to a whole new level,” said Rodriguez. “He’s a great fighter but this is my time now. You have to take risks in this sport, that’s what special fighters do. They said it was a risk me challenging for a world title fight on short notice and now they say it’s a risk taking on a fighter like Rungvisai but this is what I want. These are the types of fights you need so you can be remembered by the fans long after your career is done.”
“I’ve always said that me and my brother are going to bring the big fights back to San Antonio and this is just the start of it. We are so proud to be from this city and we get that love back from the people there so this will be a special night.”
“Jesse might be the youngest current world champion, but this is a fight where he can prove he already belongs with the very best in boxing,” said trainer Robert Garcia. “We have a lot of respect for Rungvisai, we know what he is capable of, and he is a great, great fighter but I also know what Jesse is capable. I have so much belief in him, and I know he is ready for this.”
“I am very excited for this opportunity to fight for the WBC world title,” said Rungvisai. “I will be at my best to win the WBC world title and become the first three times WBC world champion in the history of Thailand. Thank you so much to Matchroom, DAZN, and the WBC for this opportunity.”
Three more world titles on the card
Rodriguez vs Rungvisai tops the four-fight world championship action. Julio Cesar Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo are set to pick it up where they left off from their fight for Martinez’s WBC world flyweight title, where both men hit the canvas in the opening round and Arroyo touched down again in the second, before the action in New Hampshire in November had to be halted after Arroyo suffered a nasty cut from an accidental headclash.
Arroyo (21-4 16 KOs) has been out of action since that night, while Martinez (18-2 14 KOs) bravely rolled the dice to take on modern great Chocolatito as the headline act on the night Rodriguez won his belt.
IBF and WBA super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev defends his titles against Ronny Rios. The pair were set to meet in New Hampshire in November, but COVID ruled Rios out and he was replaced by game late challenger Jose Velasquez. Akhmadaliev (10-0 7 KOs) retained his belts with a near-shutout on the cards, going the distance for just the third time in his 10th pro bout, and second as a world champion. Rios (33-3 16 KOs), the mandatory challenger for the WBA crown, goes for glory for the second time in his 36-fight career after challenging Rey Vargas for the WBC strap at 122lbs in August 2016.
The fourth bout on the card has the most belts on the line, as undisputed welterweight ruler Jessica McCaskill makes the third defense of all her marbles at 147lbs. McCaskill (11-2 4 KOs) ripped the straps from long-standing ruler Cecilia Braekhus on the streets of Downtown Tulsa in August 2020 and saw off the Norwegian in a rematch for her first defense in March 2021. The Chicagoan recorded the fourth stoppage win of her career in the second defense of the belts in December, ending Kandi Wyatt’s challenge in the seventh, and will face an opponent to be named soon in San Antonio.
Rodriguez vs Rungvisai fight card
The current Rodriguez vs Rungvisai fight card can be found below. The finalized lineup is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
- Jesse Rodriguez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, 12 rounds, super flyweight – Rodriguez’s WBC super flyweight title
- Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo, 12 rounds, flyweight – Martinez’s WBC flyweight title
- Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ronny Rios, 12 rounds super bantamweight – Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA super bantamweight titles
- Jessica McCaskill vs. TBA, 10 rounds, welterweight – McCaskill’s undisputed welterweight title
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