The bantamweight division is about to witness a high-stakes showdown as undefeated phenom Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez steps up in weight to challenge the newly minted WBA World Bantamweight Champion, Antonio Vargas.
Scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, this 12-round championship bout promises fireworks. Vargas puts his title on the line for the very first time just 12 days after being promoted to full champion status, while Rodriguez looks to conquer yet another weight class.
Boxing fans across the globe won't want to miss a second of this action. Here is everything you need to know to catch the event:
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026
Venue: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale, Arizona, USA
Main Card Start Time: 8:00 PM EST / 5:00 PM PST (1:00 AM BST in the UK)
Main Event Ringwalks (Estimated): 10:45 PM EST / 7:45 PM PST (3:45 AM BST)
The entire card will be broadcast exclusively worldwide on DAZN.
You can also watch the boxing event between Jesse Rodriguez and Antonio Vargas for free on BoxingBox for completely free.
This matchup presents a fascinating contrast in styles, physical attributes, and momentum.
| Stat | Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez | Antonio Vargas |
| Record | 23-0-0 (16 KOs) | 19-1-1 (11 KOs) |
| KO Percentage | 70% | 58% |
| Age | 26 years old | 29 years old |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Height / Reach | 5'4" / 67" | 5'5" / 68" |
| Pro Rounds Fought | 133 | 112 |
While Vargas holds a slight 1-inch advantage in both height and reach, Rodriguez holds the edge in raw power with a 70% knockout rate. Additionally, Rodriguez is a sharp-shooting southpaw who has operated at the absolute highest level of the sport, despite being three years younger than the champion.
Jesse Rodriguez has been on an absolute tear, cementing himself as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the lower weight classes. "Bam" has stopped his last five opponents, including a brilliant 10th-round KO victory over Fernando Martinez in November 2025 to capture super flyweight supremacy. Rodriguez stays highly active, stepping into the ring roughly every 6 months and averaging 7.8 rounds per fight during his recent dominant run.
Antonio Vargas, currently ranked number 5 by The Ring at 118 lbs, faces a steep defense. Vargas is coming off a grueling, dramatic 12th-round technical knockout draw against Daigo Higa in July 2025. Prior to that setback, Vargas secured impressive TKO victories over Winston Guerrero and Jonathan Rodriguez. However, ring rust could play a factor; Vargas has been out of action for over 10 months, whereas Rodriguez last fought just under 7 months ago.
Before the main event, the Desert Diamond Arena will host a packed undercard to warm up the Arizona crowd. Highly anticipated bouts include a thrilling clash between Arturo Cardenas and Jordan Martinez, as well as an exciting women's matchup featuring Elif Nur Turhan squaring off against Gabriela Tellez.
Will Rodriguez's relentless activity and devastating power carry up to 118 pounds, or will Vargas utilize his size and champion's resolve to pull off a massive upset? Tune into DAZN this Saturday night to find out.
