Bam Rodriguez vacates super flyweight titles for bantamweight move

Jesse Rodriguez has relinquished all three of his flyweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super flyweight world titles ahead of his bantamweight debut Saturday against Antonio Vargas.

Rodriguez, 26, vacated his WBC, WBA, and WBO belts at 115 pounds rather than hold them as insurance for a potential drop back down, Bad Left Hook reports. The decision means he has no fallback leverage if Vargas upsets him — a contrast to the path many rising titleholders take when testing a new weight class.

Why Rodriguez's move differs from typical champion strategy

When Emanuel Navarrete challenged for a lightweight belt in 2024, he kept his WBO featherweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super featherweight strap in reserve. After Denys Berinchyk beat him at 135 pounds, Navarrete simply returned to 130 as the reigning champion and A-side. Rodriguez chose not to build that safety net, signaling confidence in his ability to handle the larger Vargas.

The move also raises questions about Rodriguez's next step. Most observers expected him to win Saturday, collect a third divisional title, then pursue undisputed bantamweight/" class="internal-link text-bone underline decoration-ash/30 hover:decoration-gold underline-offset-2">super bantamweight king Naoya Inoue. Rodriguez has mentioned staying at bantamweight for a second fight, possibly a unification against WBC titleholder Takuma Inoue, Naoya's brother.

Rodriguez faces Vargas on Saturday, June 13, with the first bell set for 7 p.m. ET.

Reported via:

• Bad Left Hook — Bam Rodriguez vacates titles ahead of bantamweight debut