FABIAN Rojo is eager to extend his unbeaten record to 9-0 when the big-punching Phoenix southpaw tackles Daniel Gonzalez later this evening. Aged just 22, Rojo is busy ticking off career boxes, including forcing his way onto huge local shows.
“I’m very proud and very excited to be on such a card. I’m nervous, but the nerves are the good ones. They’re the ones that I know are going to help me get through this fight, look good and get that win. Everybody is going to be here to support me. I feel the love, I feel the support and that makes me even stronger. It’s the support that makes me feel even stronger for tomorrow,” he told Boxing News at yesterday’s weigh-in.
“We’re doing very well, I’m here putting forward my best efforts and I’m very excited to fight. My preparation went great, I worked really hard. I had great sparring and I know I’m ready.”
Simply winning the bout against Gonzalez, a grizzled Albuquerque campaigner who already knows what it is like to taste defeat, will not be enough. Rojo is ready to reintroduce that losing feeling to him on the undercard and look good doing it.
“It’s a great card and it’s very important to win, but it’s also important to look good doing it. I want to make everyone feel proud and excited and I’m ready. It’s going to be a great fight. I’ve worked a lot on my footwork, my head movement and my defence. I know that I’m here to give everybody a show,” he added.
Setting the scene for two lower-weight warriors later in the evening, Rojo looks up to fighters and styles that inspire him to do better.
“There’s a lot of great fighters. I really like Victor Ortiz. Also, I know Lomachenko isn’t Mexican, but I really love his style. His angles, his movement. I practice them a lot.”
Speaking of angles and movement, Bam Rodriguez has mastered them to a fine art. Meanwhile, Estrada is the master of closing distance and quickly turning up the dial, round after round. The main event is unlikely to disappoint.
“It’s a great fight,” agreed Fabian Rojo. “Gallo has a great style and I know that Bam comes ready to bring the heat. Both are ready and I think it’s going to be a great fight.”