Articles

Delvin Rodriguez Aims At Austin Trout

Published

12 years ago

May 24, 2012

showtime-boxing BRONX, NY (May 24, 2012) Delvin Rodriguez's life as a 32-year-old world ranked prizefighter, father and son looks to add another title on Saturday, June 2nd, as he gets a second chance to a lifetime goal, being called a 'world champion'.

Although known as one of boxing's true warriors with a recent five-year span facing only the toughest fights in the welterweight and now junior middleweight divisions, Rodriguez gets a second opportunity to become a world champion, a title he's worked towards since he was 10 years old when he had his first amateur bout.

With a huge crowd expected at The Home Depot Center in Carson, California and a SHOWTIME televised audience, Rodriguez will challenge WBA Junior Middleweight World Champion Austin Trout over twelve rounds.

Rodriguez first fought for the world title on August 1, 2009, against Isaac Hlatshwayo at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The bout for the IBF Welterweight Title, seemingly was won by Rodriguez over the twelve rounds as he controlled the action throughout only to be disappointed by the split decision loss.

Promoted by Star Boxing for most of his career, Rodriguez typifies fighters from a different era; with no tune-ups or “stay busy” fights on his ledger.

“Delvin has been terrific to promote. He's always challenged himself with each bout to face the highest ranked guy available, a fight that could lead to a world title bout. For him it's all about getting that world title belt and the fans and TV networks have been the recipients of numerous excellent battles he's been involved in,” said Joe DeGuardia, President of Star Boxing.

Sporting a battle tested record of 26-5-3 with fourteen knockouts, Rodriguez has appeared on ESPN Friday Night Fights eleven times in numerous, action packed fights against other world ranked contenders.

On Wednesday,June 6th, Rodriguez will be honored by the esteemed Boxing Writer's Association of America with a nod to his “Fight of the Year” against popular Polish and world ranked junior middleweight Pawel Wolak at Roseland Ballroom in New York City on July 15, 2011.

In a bout promoted by Star Boxing and televised on ESPN Friday Night Fights, Rodriguez and Wolak engaged in a fistic battle that fans will remember for a lifetime. Despite it being his first bout at junior middleweight, Rodriguez was able to control the pace and successfully counter punch the overly aggressively bull-rushing style of Wolak.

The bout featured non-stop two way action amid a packed house of over 2,500 New York City fight fans who stood and cheered throughout, Rodriguez and Wolak emptied their tanks during each three minute round.

With the bout declared a draw, Rodriguez was determined, “I thought I won and I want to fight him again next” he stated in ring during the post fight TV interview.

Said DeGuardia, “It's a testament to Delvin's character that being involved in that type of draining, intense battle and that he'd want an immediate rematch. But Delvin thought he won and wanted to prove to the fans who watched that he could beat Wolak again, and more convincingly.”

“So for weeks afterwards Delvin was calling me wanting the rematch. And while I'm working on it I bring up perhaps a bout in between, not a tune up, but just a different opponent, but he wanted Wolak again. “

Continued Rodriguez, “I wasn't interested in facing anyone else. Nothing had been resolved in the first fight so I wanted an opportunity to beat him, which I clearly did the second time. I had no interest in taking a sideways step for a different fight, I wanted to keep moving forward and that would mean beating Wolak.”

“It really speaks loudly that he wanted to face Wolak right away. The first bout was such a hard battle, but he wanted to start 'Round 11' right away,” continued DeGuardia.

“The rematch took place at Madison Square Garden on December 3rd on the HBO Pay Per View broadcast of the Cotto/Margarito rematch, a perfect opportunity to show Delvin again. Delvin would get his rematch on the biggest stage in boxing.”

Stated Rodriguez, 'It really was a groundswell of support from the fans and media, particularly on the East Coast. They demanded the rematch and I was honored to have it take place at Madison Square Garden on such a terrific card.”

In the rematch in front of a loud and boisterous packed house of over 22,000 fans, Rodriguez fought beautifully and brutally, working each round behind a terrific jab and excellent overhand rights. Scores at the end of the ten rounder were all in favor of Rodriguez, earning him the unanimous decision (100-90, 98-91, 98-92). Most impressive was, in spite of being substantially and clearly ahead, Rodriguez put on an unforgettable final round performance, brutally battering Wolak, and leaving nothing in the ring.

“I sat down on my punches more and really hurt him early in the fight. As soon as the final round started I wanted to finish him off, I didn't want to leave it in the judges hands,” said Rodriguez.

Stated DeGuardia, “It's always a special night having your fighter win at The Garden and Delvin looked sensational. The two fights really were indicative of Delvin's career; a true warrior.”

“Consequently it moved him up in the WBA rankings and now he's got a second shot at a world title against Trout and he's more than ready.”

“For fans of Delvin there's not much for me to say, they already know about the warrior and person that he is. For those unfamiliar to him or his career, the best thing I can say is buy a ticket or tune in to the SHOWTIME broadcast on June 2nd. He's a special fighter and he's got a second chance at his dream.”

Concluded Rodriguez, “My life is my career, my goal has always been to win a world title and that's my plan for June 2nd.”

Tickets are on sale for as low as $25, with VIP floor seats priced at $200. Other tickets in the 8,000-seat outdoor stadium are priced at $50 and $100. Fans can purchase tickets at AXS.com or by phone at 888-9-AXS-TIX (888-929-7849), as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PT). VIP Suites are available for purchase by calling 1-877-604-8777. For more information on group discounts or VIP packages, please call 1-877-234-8425.

“Four Warned” features former Light Heavyweight World Champion Antonio “Magic Man”Tarver (29-6, 20 KO's) facing unbeaten Lateef Kayode(18-0, 14 KO's) in a 12-round cruiserweight fight, former undisputed junior middleweight kingpin Winky Wright (51-5-1, 25 KO's) returning to the ring to meet undefeated Peter Quillin (26-0, 20 KO's) in a middleweight bout, Austin Trout (24-0, 14 KO's) risking his perfect record and WBA Super Welterweight belt against Delvin Rodriguez (26-5-3, 14 KO's) and IBF number one rated bantamweight contender Vusi Malinga (20-3, 12 KO's) facing IBF number five rated contender Leo Santa Cruz (19-0-1, 11 KO's) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. All four bouts will be telecast on Saturday, June 2, live on SHOWTIME® (9:00 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the West Coast) from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. “Four Warned” is presented by A.T. Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Productions with Trout vs. Rodriguez being presented in association with Greg Cohen Promotions and Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Malinga vs. Santa Cruz being presented in association with Branco Sports Productions. The event is sponsored by Corona and AT&T.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, visit the website at http://sports.SHO.com.

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The Sweet Science

Articles

2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Articles

Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

8 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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Articles

2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

8 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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