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Undefeated middleweight/super middleweight sensation Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez had a very successful “Homecoming,” stopping 30-fight veteran Patrick Thompson for only the second time in his career in Thursday night’s main event at historic Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA.
“Homecoming,” promoted by DiBella Entertainment in association with Manfredo’s Gym, was taped live as part of DiBella’s “Broadway Boxing Series,” which shot in New England for the first time.
The 23-year-old Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez, living in Worcester, improved his perfect pro record to 10-0 (7) with a second-round technical knockout of Thompson, 15-14-1 (5), who went the distance with notables such as present IBF mandatory middleweight title challenger Giovanni Lorenzo, John Duddy, Joe Greene, Vanes Martirosyan, Sechew Powell, and Ishe Smith. Thompson had been stopped only once, five years ago by Alfonso Gomez.
Ryan Kielczewski, 4-0, 2008 National Golden Gloves runner-up, registered his first knockout as a pro when his lightweight bout against Aaron Chavez, 2-2, was halted in the third round.
Middleweight prospect Philip Jackson Benson, 3-0, a two-time New York Golden Gloves champion remained unbeaten with a third-round TKO of Dameon Mitchell, 0-2.
Also on the undercard, three-time Irish national amateur champion Steven Ormond, 3-0, made a successful US debut when Jonathan Ocasio, 0-4, was unable to continue after one round.
Welterweight Dustin Reinhold, 1-0, had an impressive pro debut, defeating Valdrin Muriqi, 0-1, by fourth-round TKO, while light heavyweight Valar Boise won his pro debut via a second-round TKO against Houston Crayton, 0-4.
