Ring and unified junior bantamweight champion Jesse Rodriguez again showcased his elite skills and power, adding the WBA title to his growing collection of belts with a dominant 10th-round knockout of Fernando Martinez last weekend.

The 25-year-old's performance caught the eye of perennial 115-pound contender Andrew Moloney, The Ring's No. 6-rated junior bantamweight, who notably shared a ring with Rodriguez's elder brother Joshua Franco on three occasions.

"Bam was very impressive as he has been in most of his performances," Moloney (28-4, 18 KOs) told The Ring.

"I did expect more from Martinez, he usually has a really high work rate but even from round one before being hit with anything significant he seemed to be fighting at a lot slower pace and didn't make any adjustments."

At the time of the stoppage Rodriguez was well ahead across all three scorecards: 90-81, 89-82 and 88-83.

Moloney felt the highlight reel knockout proved the icing on the cake for Rodriguez.

"The final shot was a very good one," the 33-year-old said, having recently returned to action himself with a fifth-round stoppage of Pawan Kumar in Fuji on November 1.

"We will have to wait and see just how special he is. There are some very interesting, hard fights for him to still have at and around junior bantamweight."

Rodriguez will turn his attentions to the IBF title fight between current titleholder Willibaldo Garcia and two-weight beltholder Kenshiro Teraji on Dec. 27 as part of The Ring V: Night of the Samurai, seeking an eventual matchup with the winner for all the marbles.

However, Moloney insists that won't be the case in the immediate future.

"The winner of the Dec. 27 showdown between Teraji and Garcia will have to fight me next," Moloney reaffirmed, as the IBF's mandatory challenger.

"I'm in the gym now working hard to make sure I have that IBF world title strapped around my waist early in 2026."

Although Moloney could theoretically take step-aside money, allowing the respective fighters an opportunity to become undisputed with a provision he boxes the winner, that isn't the Australian is willing to do.

That's according to his manager, Tony Tolj, who confirmed as much on social media.

"There will be no step aside," Tolj stated on X. "Team Moloney are fully committed to the Garcia-Teraji winner and as the IBF have ruled in writing, there is no exceptions including unification, no further delays: the winner must fight Andrew Moloney."

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X@AnsonWainwr1ght