Does Rodriguez Have What It Takes to Dethrone Kosei Tanaka?
Jonathan Rodriguez (25-2, 17 KOs) hopes to seize the moment as he will challenge reigning WBO junior bantamweight champion Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs) on July 20 in Tokyo, Japan. Rodriguez plans to take full advantage of this world title opportunity and feels he will win by stoppage.
GOING FOR THE GUSTO
Currently ranked twelfth by the WBO, Rodriguez took part in a public workout session in Tokyo for the local boxing press. Afterward, the 28-year-old from Mexico spoke about the upcoming contest. He plans to be in attack mode from the opening bell.
“I am highly motivated as I am in good condition. I’ve got a hard punch and will aim at knocking him out from the first round.”
NOT AN EASY TASK
He’s in for a tall order against Tanaka, who won the junior bantamweight strap in February 2024 with a unanimous decision over Christian Rangel. A four-division world champion, Tanaka has an offensive arsenal that’s as diverse as anyone in boxing.
But the defending champion can be hit and hurt, as evidenced in the lone defeat of his career when he was stopped in eight rounds by Kazuto Ioka in December 2020. In the years since that contest, some in the boxing community still wonder if Tanaka has fully shored up his defensive flaws and have questions about his chin. Rodriguez hopes to have similar success as Ioka did so many years ago.
Most pundits view Rodriguez as a significant underdog. But with his aggressive style and punching power, the Mexican challenger is undeterred by the doubters. Can Rodriguez dethrone the champion in his home country? He thinks he has the will and the punch to shut up the pundits and prove them wrong.
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