SCHEDULE: JESSE RODRIGUEZ TAKES ON CRISTIAN GONZALEZ, SHAKUR STEVENSON BATTLES SHUICHIRO YOSHINO & MORE

By: Jay Calderon‍

We have a busy weekend of fights coming up, with four cards (insane) of note on deck.

First up, we have the DAZN card airing out of San Antonio, Texas, headlined by rising star Jesse Rodriguez. The unbeaten titlist will be moving back down in weight to take on lightly-regarded Cristian Gonzalez for a vacant portion of the Flyweight title.

Rodriguez, 17-0 with 11KOs, has been on a roll as of late, having stopped seven of his last 10 opponents. In his most recent encounter, "Bam" was taken the distance by Israel Gonzalez in a success defense of his Jr. Bantamweight title back in September of last year.

Gonzalez has a solid enough record as a pro, coming into the contest at 15-1 with 5KOs. While quite obviously not a puncher, Gonzalez has stopped his last two and has won nine straight since his lone career defeat. In his last bout back in March of 2022, Gonzalez made quick work of Juan Alejo Zuniga, stopping him in the opening frame.

In the co-featured bout of the evening, we have the highly-skilled Jr. Featherweight titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev defending his gold against highly-rated Marlon Tapales.

In perhaps the most competitive bout of the evening, Akhmadaliev will look to defend his straps for the fourth time. "MJ", 11-0 with 8KOs, isn't a massive puncher, but has stopped six of his last eight through sheer volume and technique.

Tapales has been a professional since 2008, racking up a record as 36-3 with 19KOs. In his encounter, Tapales stopped Jose Estrella in a couple of frames back in mid-2022.

To check out the Prediction for Akhmadaliev vs. Tapales, click here.

On the east coast, former Jr. Lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson will be making his Lightweight debut, taking on undefeated Shuichiro Yoshino at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, airing live on ESPN.

Stevenson will be looking to make some noise in a loaded division, and Yoshino could be the sort of opponent that plays that part. Shakur, 19-0 with 9KOs, last competed in September, earning a comfortable decision over Robson Conceicao.

Yoshino, 16-0 with 12KOs, last competed in November of last year, stopping Masayoshi Nakatani in the sixth round at the Super Arena, in Saitama, Japan.

To check out the Prediction for Stevenson vs. Yoshino, click here.

Speaking of Japan, in the early hours of Saturday, in Tokyo, World Jr. Flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji will make the first defense of that gold when he takes on late-replacement Anthony Olascuaga, live on ESPN.

Teraji, originally scheduled to face Jonathan Gonzalez in a unification bout, is looking to keep busy against the likely-overmatched Olaschuega. In his most recent encounter, the 21-1 with 12KOs Teraji handed previously-unbeaten Hiroto Kyoguchi his first defeat, snatching his 108 pound crown in the process.

Olaschuega, 5-0 with 3KOs (seriously), will be getting the biggest break of his very young career. Most recently, Olaschuega stopped Marco Sustaita in a single round back in 2022.

On the undercard, Takuma Inoue and Liborio Solis will battle it out for a vacant portion of the Bantamweight title.

Inoue, once-beaten as a professional, is riding a 4 fight win streak. In his most recent outing, Inoue stopped Jake Bornea in eight rounds back in December.

Solis, 35-6-1 with 16KOs, last fought in November, beating Luis Carrillo by second round knockout. The last loss for Solis came at the hands of the highly-skilled Guillermo Rigondeaux back in 2020 via split decision.

Finally (deep breath), unbeaten Jr. Middleweight contender Sebastian Fundora returns to action, taking on Brian Mendoza at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, live in Showtime.

Fundora, a heavy betting favorite, will look to improve his record in the paid ranks, which currently sits at 20-0-1 with 13 inside the distance. Last time out, Fundora went the distance with Carlos Ocampo back in October of last year.

Mendoza, 21-2 with 15KOs, fought twice last year, stopping both Benjamin Whitaker and Jeison Rosario in March and November, respectively.

To check out the rest of the schedule, including betting odds, click here.

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