Boxing Prospect Edwin Rodriguez Will Stay At Super Middle

ByBoxing Press

Highly-regarded, unbeaten prospect Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez could still be “The Future of the Middleweight Division” as projected when he turned pro but, at least for the immediate future, he’ll continue campaigning as a super middleweight.

The Dominican Republic-born Rodriguez (13-0, 9 KOs), fighting out of Worcester (MA), is set for nationally televised debut March 19 in an 8-round super middleweight bout versus veteran George “The Rooster” Armenta on ESPN Friday Night Fights, live from Choctaw Gaming Center in Durant, Oklahoma.

Rodriguez, who was the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships and 2006 U.S. National Golden Gloves Tournament gold medalist, has fought as light as 162 pounds with a high of 168 in his last fight, a fifth-round technical knockout of Brian Norman last November.

“I’ve settled-in as a super middleweight and now I’m fully focused on training and improving,” the 24-year-old explained. “I feel very comfortable at 168. I’m improving with each fight and I believe we’re on the right track. I’m working on improving my skills instead of losing weight, but I can get down to 160 for a big fight.

“Boxing looks more physical than mental, but it’s really more mental. I had a big problem, mentally, trying to make the (2008 U.S.) Olympic team when my twins were (prematurely) born and they were in the hospital fighting for their lives.

“That’s as tough as it gets in the gym. I had it bad, mentally, when the twins were born. You need to have your head on straight in this sport, not worrying about making weight. I feel great, physically and mentally, for this fight.”

Rodriguez looks like a super middleweight, standing 6’ 1” with long arms, who’ll probably grow into a light heavyweight as he physically matures. For now, though, he’ll fight at 168 with the option of fighting as a middleweight, provided he has sufficient time to lose those extra pounds, and remain strong.

“Edwin walks around at 175 and making 168 is so much easier for him,” Rodriguez’ manager, Larry Army, added. “I believe, physically, he has the body of a super middleweight. He’ll be able to keep 6-8 more pounds and improve, instead of struggling to make weight.

“For the right opponent, he can drop down to 160, and remain strong. Right now, the top super middleweights are tied up in the Super Six tournament, but the middleweight division is wide open, and Edwin should be ready in another year or so to fight the top 160-pounders in the world.”

On ESPN FNF, Rodriguez fights a much more experienced Armenta (13-5, 11 KOs), who has knocked out 2000 U.S. Olympian Dante Craig and extended current WBA light middleweight champion Yuri Foreman and top contender Sechew Powell the full distance in their fights. Powell headlines the Mar. 19th show.