Warner Boxing: Moore vs. Rodriguez This Friday In Cleveland

Undefeated light middleweight prospect Dante “The Phenom” Moore will be facing the toughest challenge of his young career on August 20 when he fights Corey “Collateral Damage” Rodriguez in the co-feature bout at the Nautica Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio.

At 20-years-old Moore has already put together a professional record of 6-0 (4 KOs) in addition to an impressive amateur pedigree. Most notably, Moore was a U.S. Junior Olympic National Champion in 2005.

He decided to take his skills to the pro-ranks in late 2007 and has been crafting his exciting pro-style since. He did not fight in 2008 due to a string of opponents dropping out but bounced back in 2009 with four fights.

He then received the special opportunity to sign with Cleveland-based Warner Promotions in early 2010 and will now be making his debut under their banner in front of his hometown city’s adoring sports fans.

“It feels great to have the fans there to support me; my family, friends and the whole Cleveland area,” Moore said. “It’s something positive for the community and I really love to do this.”

His journey to success still has a ways to go; but as always with a prospect that has a high ceiling such as Moore, half of the satisfaction in seeing them succeed is following them on their road to the top.

Rodriguez, for his part, is no pushover for any prospect in boxing. He carries a 4-1-1 (3 KOs) record and touts his own honor roll of amateur experience. Rodriguez, who hails from Minneapolis, Minn., participated in an array of local and national amateur tournaments including the 2007 National Golden Gloves where he finished as a quarterfinalist.

Moore recognizes that Rodriguez will present a stiff challenge when they get into the ring together on the 20th in what will be his first six-round fight. “I’m ready for him,” Moore said. “When I got into the game I knew it wasn’t going to be easy from the beginning. I’m ready for whatever.”

As for his plans on how to approach the fight, nothing much has changed. Moore trusts in his abilities and advice from his co-trainers Darrell Moore and Joe Delguyd.

He describes himself as a boxer-puncher and uses the ring smarts he’s developed from his background to make necessary adjustments during the fights. “It depends on who I’m fighting against and how he reacts to what I’m doing in the ring, I just let it flow,” Moore said.

Outside of the ring Moore is a high-character individual who works full-time honing his craft in the gym. He travels across town every day to work with Delguyd and his father Darrell Moore at the Old School Boxing Club.

On the 20th Moore will put those talents on display in front of a hometown crowd in a competitive bout sure to be action packed. As a young prospect he will count on his character outside the ring just as much as inside the ring to lead him not only to another victory but future success in the “sweet science.”

The nine-bout event titled “Friday Night Fights” is headlined by a clash between Nick Firtha and Mike Sheppard for the NABA U.S. Heavyweight and Ohio State Heavyweight Championships. In addition to the fights there will be live music starting at 5 p.m. with the first bell to ring promptly at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are on-sale through all Ticketmaster locations, livenation.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets start at just $25 for general admission. There are also tables seating eight for $600, tables seating four for $300, Ringside for $75, and floor seats for $50.