'Bam' Rodriguez defeats Vargas, improves to 24-0

'Bam' Rodriguez defeats Vargas, improves to 24-02hAndreas HaleFrom overlooked prospect to P4P star: The rise of Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez2dAndreas HaleMeet the 2026 Boxing Hall of Fame: Golovkin, Benn, Nava, more3dNick ParkinsonO. Jones vexed by split draw, retains IBF crown53mAndreas HaleTommy Fury secures majority decision win against Eddie Hall5hPAHearn rips 'clueless' White over Joshua-Fury claims2dAndreas HaleGolden Boy claims Zuffa interfering with Garcia3dAndreas HaleMayer-Cameron set for title unifier at MVPW-064dAndreas HaleBerlanga, Hitchins to make Zuffa debuts July 265dAndreas HaleBoxing divisional rankings: Billam-Smith dominates in return, reenters cruiserweight top 102hAndreas HaleAndrew Moloney wins IBF super flyweight title, eyes Jesse Rodriguez undisputed fight8dJake MichaelsAndrew Moloney turned down US$250,000 to instead fight for world title9dJake MichaelsBoxing's key storylines: Garcia's future, Charlo's return and Usyk's next move10dLonnie Ali: 'Muhammad was a person who did not judge others'11dAndreas HaleBoxing champions list2hBoxing schedule2hESPNWomen's divisional rankings: Holm's effort in defeat earns top-5 spot at lightweight2hAndreas HaleMen's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Bivol is back, but just misses the top 52hBoxing divisional rankings: Billam-Smith dominates in return, reenters cruiserweight top 102hAndreas HaleWomen's boxing champions list3hTommy Fury secures majority decision win against Eddie Hall5hPAHow to watch MVPW 04: Jones vs. Carranza on ESPN2dKeith JenkinsHearn rips 'clueless' White over Joshua-Fury claims2dAndreas HaleOshae Jones and Tiara Brown have something to prove -- but for very different reasons3dAndreas HaleGolden Boy claims Zuffa interfering with Garcia3dAndreas HaleMayer-Cameron set for title unifier at MVPW-064dAndreas HaleBerlanga, Hitchins to make Zuffa debuts July 265dAndreas HaleS.

F. outdoor card bagged for 'logistical concerns'5dAndreas HaleAndrew Moloney wins IBF super flyweight title, eyes Jesse Rodriguez undisputed fight8dJake MichaelsAndreas HaleJun 14, 2026, 12:23 AM ETCloseAndreas Hale is a combat sports reporter at ESPN. Andreas covers MMA, boxing and pro wrestling.

In Andreas' free time, he plays video games, obsesses over music and is a White Sox and 49ers fan. He is also a host for Sirius XM's Fight Nation. Before joining ESPN, Andreas was a senior writer at DAZN and Sporting News.

He started his career as a music journalist for outlets including HipHopDX, The Grammys and Jay-Z's Life+Times. He is also an NAACP Image Award-nominated filmmaker as a producer for the animated short film "Bridges" in 2024.Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJesse "Bam" Rodriguez stopped Antonio Vargas with a sixth-round knockout to become a world champion in a third weight class at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, on Saturday.

Rodriguez knocked down Vargas in the fourth round before finishing the job with a straight left hand in the sixth to claim the WBA bantamweight title.And with yet another impressive showing, the world will wait to see if a superfight between Rodriguez and Naoya Inoue will materialize next."I'm ready for whoever, whenever," Rodriguez (24-0, 17 KOs) said after collecting his sixth consecutive stoppage.

"Put them in front of me, and I'm going to say yes."Earlier in the week, Rodriguez's trainer, Robert Garcia, suggested to ESPN that Rodriguez might take another fight at 118 pounds before moving up to bantamweight to challenge Inoue. However, Eddie Hearn stated that it might be difficult to wait if Rodriguez performed well against Vargas.

And he didn't just perform well; he excelled and dominated another world champion.Rodriguez, 26, carried the power up another weight class in his bantamweight debut as he traded with Vargas. Rodriguez absorbed some punches from Vargas (19-2-1) but was never in trouble against a bigger opponent.

Instead, Rodriguez's punch variety and ability to cut angles eventually mowed down Vargas and set up the finish. Vargas, who had been knocked down in two of his past three outings, was put down hard in Round 4 by a short overhand left from Rodriguez. Vargas attempted to battle his way back into the fight, but Rodriguez was too sharp and eventually connected on the fight-ending punch at the end of a beautiful four-punch combination."

He was tougher than I thought," Rodriguez said. "He had good pop in his punches. I didn't think he had pop like that.

I knew he had some, but you know, he was a lot stronger than I thought. And even after that first knockdown, he got up, and he was fighting like it never even happened. Respect to him."

Rodriguez landed 81of 213 punches (38%) to Vargas' 81 of 279 (29%). The difference was in the punch placement as Rodriguez opened up windows to punch through.The win opens plenty of options for Rodriguez, who could stay at 118 pounds and go after another world title, with WBO champion Christian Medina at the top of the list.

But it's hard to ignore how b