Rodriguez (24-0, 17 KOs), a former unified 112- and 115-pound champion and The Ring's No. 4-ranked fighter pound-for-pound, put Vargas down in the fifth round to take control of the fight and then floored him again the following round. He didn't get up the second time and was counted out.

Rodriguez has now stopped his last six opponents over three weight classes.

Attention immediately turned to a much-desired super fight against undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue, and Rodriguez told the fans gathered at the Desert Diamond Arena that he’s ready for whomever, whenever.

Vargas (19-2-1, 11 KOs, 1 NC) gave a solid account of himself from the opening stanza, but Bam started buckling his rival’s knees in the second due to a severe lack of upper lateral movement from his opponent. 

Rodriguez got touched up a bit in the third but rebounded in the fourth before rocking and dropping Vargas in the fifth, and eventually knocked him out in the sixth with a devastating straight left hand.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:15 of the sixth round.

Rodriguez proved he was more than ready to make his mark at 118 pounds despite eating more punches than he’s used to. CompuBox credited Rodriguez with landing 105 of his 311 shots, compared to 98 of 412 coming in from Vargas.

Rodriguez clearly showcased superior skills and blistering speed, punching and pivoting as he pleased with power shots, while Vargas was more active, connecting with mostly pitter-patter punches. However, Rodriguez did have some marks on his face while delivering his post-fight remarks.

“I felt great and that I did everything right,” Rodriguez said. “We knew that would be the outcome, but Vargas was a lot tougher than I expected. He had good pop in his punches, too, and I had to stay careful. Thankfully, I was able to get him out of there in the sixth, and that was all she wrote.”

Vargas, a 2016 U.S. Olympian and 118-pound titleholder, came into the clash leaning on his faith as much as his skills, but it was evident from the fifth round onward that divine intervention would be needed to get past Rodriguez's God-given abilities.

Vargas tasted the canvas for the fourth fight in a row in the first 30 seconds of the fifth frame due to a chin-checking, precise left hand. Vargas was clearly hurt and wobbled, but he valiantly fought back and rallied to end the round on his feet.

“He was a lot stronger than I thought. Even after the first knockdown, he got up like it never even happened and kept throwing even stronger. So a lot of respect for him,” said Rodriguez. “I was able to adjust in the third and fourth rounds and went from there. … I just do me, and the knockouts come.”

Rodriguez proved he was levels above Daigo Higa, Winston Guerrero and Jonathan Rodriguez, and that he wouldn't allow the wounded Vargas to get back into the fight by stopping him in the sixth.

The 26-year-old, San Antonio-born-and-bred southpaw slugger Rodriguez headlined a card in Arizona for the fourth time since his breakout win against Carlos Cuadras in 2022.

Donning silver and black trunks, Rodriguez paid homage to his hometown Spurs, who mere minutes earlier had lost in the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks. But Rodriguez proved he wouldn’t choke and squander a lead while growing his legend, unlike Victor Wembanyama and company.

Reports on Inoue-Rodriguez have suggested that the fight can take place as early as December or January in Japan and that Netflix is interested in streaming the showdown. Rodriguez could also take another title unification fight at 118 pounds to further acclimate himself at the weight before moving on to 122 pounds.

“I’m just happy to be a three-division champion at 26 years old,” said Rodriguez. “Whoever they say and throw in front of me, I am going to say yes.”