Jesse Rodriguez is preparing for his upcoming fight against WBO champion Phumelele Cafu on July 19, where he aims to become the first undisputed super-flyweight titleholder. This significant event on the Matchroom Boxing schedule will now also feature another crucial bout with world title implications.
Middleweight prospect Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, with a record of 18 wins and 1 loss (12 KOs), is highly regarded by fans. However, his progress was interrupted last year when Hamzah Sheeraz inflicted his first professional defeat via an 11th-round stoppage.
Despite this setback, the southpaw fighter from Wisconsin has demonstrated resilience, securing two victories since then to re-establish himself in world title contention. These wins include a stoppage against Gian Garrido and a decision win over Patrice Volny.
These recent successes have propelled Williams into the top 10 rankings across three major sanctioning bodies, strengthening the belief that he has the potential to become a leading figure in the competitive 160lb middleweight division for the United States.
Meanwhile, Italy’s Etinosa Oliha boasts an undefeated record of 21 wins (9 KOs). Ranked #2 by the IBF, Oliha has shown considerable technical development since partnering with German promoter Agon Sports in 2023, maintaining his perfect record with five consecutive wins against tougher opposition in Germany.
In March, the International Boxing Federation mandated a fight between Williams and Oliha to determine the next mandatory challenger for the undefeated unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs). Negotiations for the fight failed, leading to a purse bid.
Matchroom Boxing successfully outbid Agon Sports by a narrow margin of just $18,000. Eddie Hearn`s promotional company has chosen to feature this pivotal eliminator bout between Williams and Oliha on the undercard of the Rodriguez-Cafu event. The IBF website has confirmed that the fight is scheduled to take place in Frisco, Texas, on July 19.
The same Matchroom card will also host the co-main event featuring undefeated super-middleweight Diego Pacheco (23-0, 18 KOs) against Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs). Pacheco is looking to make a statement and position himself as an immediate threat to the world titles in his division.
