Boxing News Boxing News
Chicago based bantamweight Francisco Rodriguez passed away on Sunday night, two days after his bout with against Philadelphia’s Teon Kennedy at the Blue Horizon.
The 25 year old Rodriguez collapsed after being stopped in the tenth round and was rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital where emergency brain surgery was performed.
Said promoter Dominic Pesoli of 8 Count Productions, “It’s with a very heavy heart that we make this announcement. Francisco was family to us and we all loved him very much. He was very popular with fight fans in Chicago and will be deeply missed.”
Known affectionately as “EL Nino Azteca”, the Mexican born Rodriguez had been a fan favorite in the Chicagoland area since turning professional in January 2005. His amateur career had been heralded across the country and in Chicago where he won the Chicago Golden Gloves multiple times.
Continued Pesoli, “I’d like to thank boxing fans across the country for their calls of concerns these last two days. It’s meant a great deal to us as we awaited word on his condition.”
Details on funeral arrangements for Rodriguez will be announced shortly.
