Rodriguez vs Edwards Flyweight Unification Preview

One of the most significant bouts in boxing in 2023 will be one of the last major fights of the year, as Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez will take on Sunny Edwards in a flyweight title unification matchup. Both men are undefeated in their careers so far, but only one man can take all the titles in this highly-anticipated bout. Here, we break down this fight and what could make the difference when Rodriguez vs. Edwards finally takes place.

Rodriguez vs. Edwards Odds

The first thing to look at for Rodriguez vs Edwards in December is the betting odds for the fight. Bettors can bet online at BetMGM with Edwards as a slight favorite going into this matchup, though by no means a heavy enough favorite to say that Rodriguez has no chance to win. This implies that either man could come away with the flyweight titles that are up for grabs when this bout takes place in Glendale, AZ.

The odds for this fight imply that we should see an entertaining matchup where both men will get their share of offense. With both men being given a decent chance to win by oddsmakers, we will likely see each fighter succeed in imposing their preferred style at points in this matchup. That will lead to a fight that will feel like it can belong to either man until the end of the action, which is great news for fight fans.

Tale of the Tape

As far as the history of both fighters leading up to this bout, there is a clear contrast of styles expected here. Rodriguez comes into this fight with an 18-0 record, with 11 wins by knockout. Meanwhile, Edwards enters with a 20-0 record, with only four victories by knockout. That should mean a fight where Rodriguez is looking to end things early with his punching power, while Edwards will look to be more judicious and pick his spots to win rounds.

Edwards's lack of finishing ability is an interesting element to this fight, as he has not won a fight by knockout since 2019. On one hand, that could leave him susceptible to being beaten by knockout by an opponent like Rodriguez, who has won by knockout in seven of his last ten bouts. On the other hand, Edwards could drag Rodriguez deeper into this fight than he is comfortable with and could box his way to another decision victory.

When evaluating this fight, it is also important to remember that this is the first fight for Rodriguez since he broke his jaw back in April. Rodriguez beat Cristian Gonzalez by unanimous decision in that fight, where he suffered a jaw injury that would require surgery to repair. But how his jaw holds up in this fight could impact the outcome, even if Rodriguez fought through that pain to win when the injury first happened.

As for the measurables that make up the accurate tale of the tape ahead of this fight, the advantage goes to Rodriguez. Rodriguez comes into this fight the taller man by one inch, entering at 5’4 1/2”, compared to Edwards’ 5’3 1/2”. The American also has a reach advantage going into this fight, as his reach is 67”, which compares favorably to Edwards’ 63 1/2” reach.

Keys to the Fight

Along with the measurables and physical attributes that make this fight, there are a few other vital factors that will have a lot to do with the outcome. One such factor is the bulletin board material that could motivate Edwards to pick up his 21st straight win in his career. Edwards has taken Roman Gonzalez’s opinion that Rodriguez will win easily very personally, which could provide the Englishman the edge he needs to succeed as a slight underdog.

It is also possible that fighting on home soil could make all the difference for Rodriguez. Not only is the American fighting in the United States, but he is also fighting reasonably close to where he is from. Rodriguez is from San Antonio, TX, and should have a strong contingent of fans cheering him on as the headliner of this card in Arizona.

Of course, having fans supporting a fighter on home soil is nothing close to a guarantee that the fighter will go on to win the fight. But in a fight that is expected to be as tightly contested as this one is, every tiny advantage could come into play in the final rounds. It would be incredibly significant if that home crowd could help Rodriguez find the energy to land even one extra critical blow.

We are set to get one of the fights of the year when Jesse Rodriguez and Sunny Edwards get into the ring against one another in December. With two styles set to clash and questions about Rodriguez returning from an injury, this bout could go in several directions. No matter which fighter wins this bout, the real winners will be the fans watching these great competitors duke it out.