by James Slater – 24-year-old Edwin Rodriguez is an exciting unbeaten middleweight who lives in Worcester, Massachusetts. The 6’1″ talent with the 13-0(9) pro record was born in The Dominican Republic and came to live in America in 1998. Turning his hand to boxing in 2002, the Lou DiBella-promoted fighter nicknamed “La Bomba” had a good amateur career. Compiling a record of 84-9, Rodriguez captured a National Golden Gloves title at 165-pounds in 2006.
Also during his unpaid career, Rodriguez travelled to England, where he met and was defeated by a certain James DeGale. Turning pro in early 2008, the prospect had a busy year; winning eight fights in his first year. Hampered by elbow trouble (bone spurs on both elbows) Edwin had to undergo surgery in March of 2009, thus slowing his progress a touch.
Now 100-percent, “pain-free” and looking ahead to a busy 2010, the Peter Manfredo Senior-trained middleweight is excited about his upcoming appearance on the Mosley-Berto card in Las Vegas.
A polite and modest person, Rodriguez began by describing his fighting style..
“I’m a boxer-puncher,” Rodriguez said. “My right hand to the head is one of my best punches, along with my left uppercut to the body – that’s my money shot. I’m still adapting to the pro game, and I think I’m getting better and better with each fight. You know, they’re like two different sports. In the pro game you have to sit down on your punches a lot more and things like that – they’re totally different sports really. But I think I’ve learnt quite fast.”
Edwin recalled his amateur days, also touching on the points loss he suffered at the hands of DeGale – a fighter he feels he will meet again one day.
“As an amateur I was 84-9, I was on the U.S.A boxing team and I also won the National Golden Gloves in 2006. I fought for four or five years as an amateur and I fought a lot. I boxed in China and in England – all over. I boxed the Olympic gold medallist, James DeGale, in London, I think it was, in 2006. I lost on points. It was a good fight, a tough fight. He’s a little ahead of me right now as a pro maybe, but we’ll see. I’d love to fight him again, and I tell you this; it would be a lot different this time around!”
Born in The Dominican Republic, Edwin, one of four brothers, relocated to America in the late ’90s and soon found out he had a talent for boxing.
“I arrived in the U.S in 1998 and I boxed for the very first time in 2002. I was going to go for a spot on the 2008 Olympic team, but I had premature twins – a boy and a girl. It was a tough time, they each weighed only one-pound and three ounces. But they’re three years old and everything’s okay now. My son has cerebral palsy but he’s walking now – he’s my miracle child, no doubt about that.”
Edwin says he is an old-school kind of guy and that the traditional middleweight division is where he plans on becoming world champion.
“I’m pretty old-school. My number-one hero is Sugar Ray Robinson. I think he was the greatest ever. I try to emulate him – he had it all; chin, power, speed, heart. Today, Kelly Pavlik is a great fighter also, and the middleweight division is a helluva division right now. I think there are a lot of hot prospects coming up at middleweight – I think I am one of the best prospects at 160. I can make 160 and also 168, but the goal has always been to become the middleweight champion. I know I’m not ready for Pavlik yet, obviously, but in a couple of years, if he’s still there, I’d love to fight him. I think he has the perfect style for me to beat. Each fight I have now is getting me more and more ready to be ready to fight him. It’s all hard work but I enjoy it all.”
In racking up his 13 pro wins, the 24-year-old feels he has not really been tested, although he does say Atlanta’s Brian Norman gave him his toughest fight thus far.
“Skills-wise, nobody has really tested me, but I’ve been tested in other ways. For example, I got cut with a head-butt (against Hector Hernandez), and that was new to me – I’d never been cut before amateur or pro. Things like that will make me a better fighter; having dealt with the situation. I’ve never been down in any fight, but I did have a standing-eight in an amateur fight with Adonis Stevenson of Canada. He’s a lefty and he caught me with a left cross. I lost on points but I was only 19. Brian Norman, who took Jean Pascal the distance, definitely gave me a good learning fight.”
Hugely motivated, Rodriguez can’t wait for his next fight and for 2010 in general.
“I plan on having more fights in 2010 than I had in 2009 – as many as my promoter Lou DiBella can get me. I was off for a while with the elbow surgery I had in March/April of 2009, and that kind of set me back a little, but that’s [the elbow trouble he suffered] just a memory now – I’m in perfect shape today. I plan on being busy this year, and Showtime have said they may televise me in March. But right now, I’m looking forward to fighting on the Mosley card in Las Vegas. If I said I wasn’t nervous I’d be lying! This is such a big card. I want to look good in front of all the media and I’ve been working hard to make sure that happens. The guy I’m fighting, Byron Tyson, I hope he comes to fight because that will make me look so much better. There’s no way I will lose.”