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Star Boxing’s top welterweight contender Delvin Rodriguez, 23-2-2 (14), ranked #5 in the IBF, will face off against Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez, 20-1 (11), ranked #15 in the IBF in a must see match-up of two of boxing’s top welterweights on March 6 at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.
The bout, for Rodriguez’s USBA Welterweight Championship, will be shown live as the main event on that evening’s ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” telecast.
Rodriguez, who hails from Danbury, CT, is coming off a twelve round draw to Isaac Hlatshwayo on November 17 in Hlatshwayo’s home country of South Africa. The fight was an official IBF eliminator for the #1 spot.
Now Rodriguez will defend his USBA welterweight championship and look to put himself in the position to challenge for a world championship in 2009 when he collides with Alvarez.
Unlike his battle with Hlatshwayo, Rodriguez will have a strong contingent of fans and supporters on hand at the Mohegan Sun.
Alvarez is a very skilled, crafty southpaw, whose only loss as a professional came in an official IBF title eliminator to current world champion Joshua Clottey. Since that loss, Alvarez has rebounded, winning a decision in his last fight against welterweight contender, and U.S. Olympian Terrance Cauthen.
“Delvin is a heck of a fighter. I know what I am going to be up against when we face off against each other on the 6th,” said Alvarez. “But if I want to be the best I am going to have to beat the best, and I consider Delvin one of the best welterweights in the world.
“One thing that I do know though is that it’s going to be great fight. I am going to be bringing my A game and I expect Delvin to do the same, which will only make for a great fight for the fans in attendance and the fans watching at home on ESPN2 to see.”
“Both of these guys are so hungry right now, they are both in the primes of their careers and they know what a win in this fight, which is going to be nationally televised on ESPN2, does for their careers,” said promoter Joe DeGuardia.
“I foresee the winner of this fight challenging for a welterweight championship sometime later on in the year. Delvin and Shamone are very similar in the sense that they are both very humble men outside of the ring, but once they lace up those gloves, both of these guys hit a switch and turn into warriors. With so much at stake, this is a must see match-up for any boxing fan.”
Rodriguez vs. Alvarez is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Mohegan Sun Casino and Resort. A complete list of the undercard will be announced shortly.
Tickets are priced at $75.00, $45.00 and $30.00 and are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com or purchase tickets by calling 1 (800)745-3000 or by calling any Ticketmaster Charge by Phone number; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.
Tickets may also be purchased at the Mohegan Sun Box Office and by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-2000.
