By: Sean Crose<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a part of contemporary boxing. Fighters watch footage of other fighters who they\u2019re going to face as often as possible. Watching what a fighter has done before can logically be a sign of what he\u2019s going to do again. It makes a lot of sense to watch films of future opponents, and many if not most fighters engage in doing it whenever they have the chance. Jesse \u201cBam\u201d Rodriguez however is another story. The undefeated, 23-0 fighter has made it clear that watching tape can be misleading. And indeed the man has a point as he points out a fighter can easily change his strategy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like to just go out the first couple rounds and see what they bring to the table,\u201d Rodriguez told Boxing Scene. \u201cYou can go out and watch all the film in the world, and he can change his style up fight night.\u201d So what\u2019s the man do for strategy? \u201cJust go out there to see what they bring.\u201d There\u2019s no doubt Rodriguez\u2019 next opponent will be more than happy to show Rodriguez what he brings to a fight. For on the 13th of this month Rodriguez will be squaring off against Antonio Vargas.<\/p>\n
At stake will be the WBA bantamweight title. Should he win, Rodriguez will be a three-time world champion. Suffice to say the scheduled 12 rounder against Vargas is a match that Rodriguez is expected to win. Strange things happen in boxing though and Vargas is not a man to be taken lightly. This is especially true when one considers the fact that Naoya Inoue may appear on the horizon should Rodriguez prove victorious. Whether he watches video or not, Rodriguez is most certainly going to want to enter the ring on the 13th in the best shape of his life<\/p>\n
Always confident, however, Rodriguez does not come across as being the least bit overwhelmed by where he is in his career. \u201cA lot of people might not know who Antonio Vargas is,\u201d said Rodriguez (via Boxing Scene), \u201cbut my team and I know.\u201d He may not be watching film, but it\u2019s clear that Rodriguez is familiar with his opponent next week. \u201cWe\u2019re not taking it lightly at all,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re here inside the gym giving it 100 per cent every day.\u201d Without doubt, Vargas is training like he never has before himself. He has a great deal on the line on the 13th, after all.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a reason however, why Rodriguez is favored to win. Just 26 years of age, he has accomplished a great deal in the ring. He\u2019s also as skilled and smooth as he is tough and dangerous. Some might even argue that Rodriguez is the entire package one would want in a fighter. Rodriguez, no doubt hopes that that\u2019s the case\u2026or perhaps he already believes it. Again,\u00a0 this is not a man who likely finds himself lacking in confidence. He\u2019s proven a lot so far, and if he looks good against Vargas, he may begin proving a lot more.<\/p>\n
Worth noting however is the fact that Vargas too is a confident individual. And, unlike Rodriguez, he may be watching video of his opponent.\u201cWe\u2019ve focused on every detail,\u201d he told British Boxing News. \u201cThe conditioning, the strategy, the sparring, everything has been executed at a championship level.\u201d Vargas added that: \u00a0\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve reached another level during this camp. I\u2019m hungry to show the boxing world this version of myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sounds like something entirely new. Perhaps Rodriguez is quite right not to study tape after all. In fact, the man\u2019s approach to preparation has certainly proven successful so far.<\/p>\n
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