Exclusive Boxing Interview: Delvin Rodriguez

Boxing is a sport full of emotion; it can provide athletes and fans alike the opportunity to experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Unfortunately, on last week’s edition of ESPN Wednesday Night Fights, that’s exactly what happened when Delvin Rodriguez won the USBA Welterweight title and opponent Oscar Diaz collapsed in the ring from a subdural hematoma.

The scheduled twelve round bout took place at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas, the hometown of Diaz. His fans came out to support him in the anticipated match, which was expected to be an action packed fight.

The fight did not disappoint the fans as the action traded back and forth between the fighters. Diaz tried to work his way in from the outside and was successful in the fourth round, landing a strong right over the jab, wobbling Rodriguez.

Rodriguez covered up and began to fight his way back by the end of the round.

During the next several rounds, Rodriguez took over the fight, keeping Diaz on the outside with his jab and straight right. In the ninth round, Diaz’s right eye was swollen shut from the hard snapping punches of Rodriguez.

Although Rodriguez won a lop-sided tenth round, it did not appear that Diaz was in any serious trouble. Before the eleventh round, the referee asked Diaz how many fingers he was holding up. Diaz appeared to answer as he rose to his feet, and then the referee asked him if he wanted to continue, to which Diaz let out a scream, pushing the referee’s arm away and turning towards the ropes as his legs went out from under him.

Now laying in the corner and quickly attended to by EMTs, Diaz was provided medical attention and put onto a stretcher where he was taken to the San Antonio University Medical Center for emergency surgery to reduce the swelling of his brain.

As the EMTs attended to Diaz, Rodriguez was looking on, trying to get an indication of what was happening. He later took the microphone to address the crowd, saying “I’m praying for Oscar and his family and will continue to pray for him throughout the night. I ask everyone else to pray for him.”

The most recent reports on Oscar Diaz are that he is in a coma and listed in critical but stable condition. The doctor that performed the emergency surgery has stated that he expects that Diaz should survive the injury and recover.

SaddoBoxing had the opportunity to speak with Delvin Rodriguez in an exclusive phone interview to find out what the experience has been like for him.

SaddoBoxing: What are your thoughts and feelings about the fight from last week? You have to be going through quite a variety of emotions, the excitement of winning a title and the tragedy of what is happening with Oscar Diaz; explain the feelings you are going through.

Delvin Rodriguez: At the beginning, it was really tough, Oscar was really in critical condition. Now it’s getting a little bit better, we are trying to keep in touch and they told me that the swelling is getting back to normal and he is moving his shoulder. The doctor’s say that he is in stable condition right now and it will take time but he should be alright. It’s a much better feeling now but just like you said I haven’t been able to celebrate my big win. I’m just waiting and want to make sure that he comes out this alright and that everything will be fine.

SB: Are you in contact with some of Oscar’s people on a regular basis?

DR: My publicist, promoter and manager inform me everyday of anything that is going on. As a matter of fact, my manager called me about an hour ago to tell me the good news that it looks like Oscar is going to be alright and he is coming along pretty good.

SB: That’s good news. Do you go through the fight in your head, thinking if it was any one punch or a variety of punches that hurt him? Concern could be seen on your face after the fight that you were looking over to see if he was ok.

DR: It was a big win and I had no idea what was going on in the beginning. I knew he had taken a lot punches and he took most of my clean hardest punches, right hands. As I saw him collapse and not respond to the doctor, I knew that there was something very serious at the moment, that it was a life and death situation. At that time I just step back and hope that he will be alright.

SB: What did you do immediately following the fight?

DR: We went back to the hotel room and tried to get in touch with his people. I spoke to his manager and promoter and they let us know what was going on and what happened. I was really upset and really sad, I couldn’t get that off my mind, there was no way I could sleep. I ran into one of his cousins in the elevator and the man just broke down and started crying so I got even more worried not knowing what was going on, I knew that it had to be something really serious. It was a tough night.

SB: Not that it’s gotten any easier, but how has it been since you have been back home?

DR: It’s a whole different win for me. When I came back to town people don’t realize how this has affected me. People come up to me and offer congratulations, good fight and they start saying you sent the guy to the hospital. I said don’t joke about it, he is in really bad condition right now. It’s been a really different situation with this win.

SB: Is there any message you would like to say to your fans and Oscar’s fans?

DR: I have been talking to everybody and they all know how I feel. They were very good to me in San Antonio. I’m still here; I’m still waiting just like they are. I really feel for them and Oscar, but I got faith, I know that hopefully everything will be alright. I’m wishing for the best that he does come out of this alright.

SB: One last question in regard to the fight itself; boxing is a one on one sport, you set out and did what you trained to do to win the fight, but do you replay the fight in your head thinking you could have done something differently? Obviously, you had no idea he was injured…

DR: I think I did really good. I have learned through my past three fights. I went in there knowing that Oscar was ready, that he is a tough fighter and a good fighter. I went in there knowing that he was going to come up to me and try to put pressure and I would have to control myself and keep my composure. I think that’s what I did, I was really alert as to what was going on at all times.

He caught me with a good right hand in the fourth round. But I was in good shape so I came right back and continue on trying to use my jab to confuse him so there was no way for him to come in, he was running into all my punches trying to come in. I think I’ve been learning through the years, every fight I have I think I learned something, I’m satisfied with my performance.

SB: Thanks for taking the time to give us your thoughts on the experience and let the fans know what you have been thinking and how you have reflected on everything that’s happened. You really are a class act.

DR: Thank you very much.

SB: On behalf of SaddoBoxing, we wish you the best and have Oscar Diaz in our prayers for a full recovery.

DR: Thanks for taking the time with me.