For all you boxing fans...

(Pictures added by me, they did not appear in the newspaper)


Sunday, January 20, 2008
Edwin to make debut Saturday

BOXING

By Bud Barth TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
hbarth@telegram.com

Two-time national amateur champion Edwin Rodriguez of Worcester begins his quest for professional boxing glory and riches on Saturday night when he makes his pro debut against Samuel Ortiz Gomez (0-3-0) of Orlando, Fla., at the Mansfield SportsPlex.

The 22-year-old Rodriguez, the 2005 USA Boxing and 2006 Golden Gloves national middleweight champion, decided to turn pro shortly after a controversial loss in June to Dominic Wade in the second round of the USA Boxing nationals, ending his dream of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He finished 89-4 as an amateur.

The 4-rounder against Gomez will be Rodriguez’s first fight without amateur headgear and his first fight at the pro middleweight standard of 160 pounds rather than the amateur limit of 165.


Making that 165-pound limit was sometimes a struggle for Rodriguez, but he since has hired a nutritionist and sworn off fast food, which used to make up the bulk of his diet.

“Edwin looks as good as he’s ever looked in his life,” Rodriguez’s manager, Grafton attorney Larry Army, said on Friday. “He’s down to 163 pounds (he was as high as 180 just three weeks ago). He’s in the best shape of his life.

“I think if he had focused on his training and nutrition plan as an amateur the way he has the last month and a half, there’s no doubt in my mind he’d be in Beijing.”

Chosen by Rodriguez’s matchmaker, Frank Rohacik of Auburn, the 25-year-old Gomez is an interesting opponent. Though he also has fought as a junior middleweight, Gomez went the 4-round limit against Tommy Rainone of New York City, who is currently undefeated (10-0-0) with three knockouts. Rainone has since dropped down to welterweight.

In his last outing in May, Gomez suffered a first-round TKO at the hands of Henry Coyle, a former Irish national champion with 250 amateur bouts under his belt. Coyle is now 4-1 with four KOs.

It’s just the start of what should be a busy first year for Rodriguez. He’ll also fight on Feb. 8 at The Castle at Park Plaza, 64 Arlington St. in Boston, against an as-yet unnamed opponent, with the card to be televised by Telefutura and possibly attended by Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, which is co-promoting the show with Brockton’s Rich Cappiello.

Rodriguez also may fight on Feb. 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York, on the undercard of the heavyweight showdown between IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBO titlist Sultan Ibragimov, and again on March 7 at the New Alhambra in Philadelphia. Those dates, however, are tentative.

The Mansfield card is being co-promoted by Peter Manfredo Sr., who runs Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket, R.I. His son is super middleweight Peter Manfredo Jr. (28-5-1, 13 KOs), “The Pride of Providence,” who gained attention on NBC-TV’s “The Contender” reality series.

The main event at the show will be a 10-round women’s bout between 30-year-old Missy “The Fury” Fiorentino (16-1-0, 6) of Cranston, R.I., the former IWBF featherweight and lightweight champion, and 29-year-old Ela Nunez (5-2-0, 1) of Jamestown, N.Y., for the vacant IWBF super featherweight title.

Tickets are $25, $50, $75 (ringside) and $175 (includes bar and food). They are available at the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester on Tainter Street, where Rodriguez is training, or by calling (401) 723-1359, (508) 509-3236, or visiting bashforcashllc.com.

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Did you read that? Philly...which means we might get to visit Hallie, Abby, and Sharon!!! Hope this pans out...it would be SO exciting to meet our fellow 23 week virtual friend!