Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez Vs. Phumelela Cafu Unification Fight: Eddie Hearn Expects 12,000 Crowd In Frisco

Promoter Eddie Hearn expects a large crowd of 12,000 on Saturday for a unification fight between WBC super flyweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez and WBO champ Phumelela Cafu at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

(Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom)

Saturday’s Rodriguez-Cafu event will be shown live on DAZN beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT. The ring walks are at approximately 7:41 p.m. ET/4:41 p.m. PT.

Bam Rodriguez: Star Status

“Working with these guys at the Dallas Cowboys is incredible. We’ll have around 12,000 here on Saturday, which is really pleasing, particularly for Bam. He’s now being recognized as a global star and a true superstar in the sport of boxing,” said Eddie Hearn to Fighthype, talking about Jesse Rodriguez’s fight against Phumelela Cafu on Saturday.

Bam a star but not a PPV attraction, and he’s yet to taste the big money that less talented non-champions routinely enjoy. The 115-lb division isn’t popular enough for the fighters to get the kind of purses that boxers are getting in other weight classes.

“He’s a world champion, a phenomenal fighter. He’s got big power, he’s very awkward, he’s got long levers, and he’s a world champion. He’s very confident,” said Hearn about Cafu. “For me, this is one of the true top fights in boxing. It’s a true unification match-up between champion and champion, and we’re looking forward to it.”

The only notable fighter that the South African Cafu, 26, has beaten during his seven-year career is WBO champion Kosei Tanaka, whom he beat by a 12-round split decision last October. That was a good performance by Cafu, but he still lacks the experience for fans to know how well he’ll perform against Bam Rodriguez.

Future Fight Plans: Martinez

“We made the fight with Fernando Martinez if he wins on Saturday. But Bam is focused on Saturday. That’s a great fight, but for me, this [Cafu] is the toughest fight in the division right now. So, he’ll be focused on what’s ahead on Saturday and then trying to become undisputed in the division,” said Hearn.

It could be a mistake for Hearn to match Bam Rodriguez against Fernando Martinez for the November 22nd card before his fight with Cafu. Bam gets hit a lot, and this is the wrong guy to be fighting with leaky defense. Hearn is assuming that because Rodriguez had stayed unbeaten and beaten the aging ex-world champion Juan Francisco Estrada. Carlos Cuadras, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, and Sunny Edwards.