WBC world super-flyweight champion Jesse Rodriguez is set to collide with newly-crowned WBO titlist Phumelela Cafu in a mouth-watering showdown this summer.
While a date and venue is yet to be announced, it would appear that the pair’s unification matchup – most likely headlining a card in America – will take place this July.
Colin Nathan, Cafu’s trainer and manager, confirmed via social media just two days ago that ‘serious talks’ are underway between his outfit, NO DOUBT Management, and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Soon after, Hearn told Boxing News that an announcement regarding Rodriguez’s next outing is imminent, with Cafu, 11-0-3 (8 KOs), seemingly emerging as an obvious opponent.
“His next fight will be in July,” said Hearn. “We’ll announce it soon, and it will be a unification matchup.”
Cafu dethroned Kosei Tanaka with a split decision victory last October, pulling off a sizable upset to claim his WBO strap at 115lbs.
After producing a strong performance on away soil, the 26-year-old soon began to gear up for a voluntary title defence, and indeed a spectacular homecoming, in South Africa.
But his fight, originally scheduled for May 24, will no longer be taking place, causing speculation of a Rodriguez, 21-0 (14 KOs), clash to gain momentum.
‘Bam’ comes off a third-round stoppage victory over Pedro Guevara, which followed his vastly more notable wins – both also arriving inside the distance – against Juan Francisco Estrada and Sunny Edwards.
Against the more seasoned opposition, including the likes of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras, the 25-year-old has not only established himself as a pound-for-pound talent but also one of the lower divisions’ most ferocious operators.
And despite WBA titlist Fernando Martinez entering a rematch with Kazuto Ioka on May 11, it would seem that Rodriguez will nonetheless earn himself an opportunity to unify his division.
