When Star Boxing’s IBF #3 rated welterweight Delvin Rodriguez (24-3-2, 14KO) steps into the ring against Poland’s IBF #4 rated Rafal “Braveheart” Jackiewicz (34-8-1, 18KO) for the #1 spot in the IBF World Ratings in an official IBF Welterweight Title eliminator in Elk, Poland on Friday November 27th, Rodriguez doesn’t intend to leave any questioning in the outcome of the fight. “I’m going to look to knock him out, or give him a beating for the entire twelve rounds we are in that ring together, so in the end there will be no question who the winner of the fight actually is.” stated Rodriguez..
“You are going to see a new Delvin Rodriguez from here on out. I am going to be much aggressive in my fights and while I won’t go into a fight just looking for a knockout, if the opportunity comes you better believe I am going to jump all over it. I am going into these fights with a more aggressive mind state, I want to hurt you, and I am going to hurt you.”
When speaking with Rodriguez or watching him train you can hear and see that he means business. Rodriguez admittedly has a very bitter taste left in his mouth from his two controversial matches against current IBF Welterweight Champion, Isaac Hlatshwayo in the last year.
“The first fight I go into his country (South Africa) for an official IBF Title eliminator and do more than enough to win a decision, even dropping him in the 9th round, but only walk away with a draw. Then we fight for the IBF Championship in August and I feel like I do even more in that fight, and he wins a split decision. I am very bitter, I should be the Champion right now and I’m not. I thought I was winning the fight easily and I stopped being as aggressive, and because of that he has the belt and I don’t. I learned my lesson against Hlatshwayo, unfortunately I had to learn it the hard way, but I can promise I won’t make the same mistake against Jackiewicz when we get in the ring on November 27th.”
At 29-years-old Rodriguez still has youth on his side, but knows that his time to shine in the welterweight division; which is stacked with the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley, Andre Berto, Miguel Cotto and Hlatshwayo; is now.
“The welterweight division is the hottest division in boxing right now. From the up and coming prospects to the contenders and champions, there are just so many good fighters in this division. That being said I am in the prime of my career and I don’t think any of those guys are better or more hungry than me.”
But with such big fights on the horizon, Rodriguez knows that the most important thing right now is to come away from Poland with a victory.
“Jackiewicz is a very good, and very skilled fighter,” says Rodriguez. “If anyone thinks I am looking past him they are very wrong. I am focused on one thing and one thing only and that’s beating Jackiewicz and becoming the number one challenger. I have had one of the best training camps of my life and know I will be heading to Poland in top shape ready to come away with the victory. He hasn’t lost in over four years, and he has never been stopped before. I’d like to be, and plan on being the first person to do it.”
Rodriguez vs. Jackiewicz will be promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing in association with Bullit Knockout Promotions.
STAR OF DAVID AND TREASURE JOIN FORCES TO SHOOT DOWN AIR FORCE KHAN
by Stacy Warren
Number one contender in the World, Dmitriy Salita of Brooklyn, NY lands in the United Kingdom this week ahead of his World title clash with Britain’s Amir Khan.
Dmitriy has been waiting for his shot at the WBA World Light Welterweight Title for over a year and now that his time has come intends to take it.
World number one contender Dmitriy Salita will be sparring Londoner Ashley “Treasure” Theophane to stay sharp whilst he tones down his training in anticipation of his clash with Amir Khan. Ashley has just come back from training camp with European title holder Paul McCloskey and is currently sparring WBC number 3 Ajose Olusegun. Ashley commented that ”It feels good to be appreciated by my peers as they requested my skills to help them get ready for their fights, it also feels great to be part of Team Salita again. I will be happy for him when he wins his World Title as he has flown me to America a few times to help him get ready for his fights so I have witnessed the sacrifices he has made first hand ”.
Dmitriy has twice flown Ashley to America to help him prepare for his fights. Once in 2007 to Florida and in 2008 to New York. In total they have been in training camp four times, Catskills, Poconos mountains in Pennsylvania, Florida and New York.
Amir Khan intends to keep his title but the WBA title has moved from fighter to fighter in recent years so history is not on Amir Khan’s side. From November 2005, no WBA Champion has retained this title on his first defence. Carlos Maussa knocked out champion Vivian Harris then Ricky Hatton knocked out Maussa. Ricky then vacated the WBA Title to avoid fighting on a Frank Warren promotion. Souleymane M’baye who signed with Frank Warren, fought for the vacant WBA Title beating Raul Balbi in five rounds. Welshman Gavin Rees would go on to beat M’baye in Cardiff. Andreas Kotelnik would wear down and knock out Gavin Rees.
Dmitriy Salita was due to fight Andreas last year on the under card of Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones Junior at Madison Square Garden which he flew Ashley out to America to help in his title charge. Andreas Kotelnik pulled out of the fight accusing Square Ring promotions of offering a scrooge like purse. Dmitriy Salita had worked his way up to the number one slot but Frank Warren came with his big bag of money and tempted Andreas with a showdown with 135lber Amir Khan who stepped up to the 140lb limit after claiming in 2008 that Andreas Kotelnik was the weakest Champion out there. So Team Khan worried how Khan’s chin would stand up to the likes of Lightweight champions Juan Manuel Marquez, Joan Guzman, Edwin Valero and Paulus Moses opted to move up and fight the weak link of the Junior Welterweights. It paid off and Khan is now Champion but he now has number one contender in the World Dmitriy Salita and the winner will have to fight the interim WBA Champion Marcos Maidana who has 25 knockout wins from 26 wins. He has power that has put many of his opponents to sleep so the winner has him to face so losing for Amir Khan may not be such a bad idea as his whiskers are not the most reliable in the World of boxing.
Dmitriy has his own documentary out about his life “Orthodox Stance” which has been shown on the BBC in Britain and hit the movie theatres in America. The DVD is now on sale on Amazon.
Last Friday Dmitriy was a guest on the NBC chat show Carson Daly so beating Amir Khan will firmly put him on the map. Dmitriy basically told his story, as an up and coming boxer fighting for a title who is also an Orthodox Jew. His unique story retells the classic American dream of rags to riches and his love for America. He will be flying the flag for America when he steps in the ring on December 5th against Amir Khan.
Dmitriy was a guest at the White House in Washington DC for a Jewish celebration whilst war monger President George Bush was in power and he was delighted with that meeting. Another Jewish boxer Yuri Foreman must be a great inspiration right now to Salita as he just won the World Title from Daniel Santos on the Miguel Cotto/Manny Paciquao under card. So the Jewish boys are back in town and looking to bring boxing back to the Glory days of the 1930s when Jewish boxers where some of the best around.
Ashley “Treasure” Theophane is in US magazine Urban Ink this month with a six page spread discussing his life, ambitions and tattoos.
He is the first British athlete, musician or entertainer to feature in the magazine.
Dmitriy does a lot to inspire Jewish kids around the World and Ashley is following in his foot steps as he has a 2010 Calendar out now which some of the top UK models supporting him to raise money for Cancer Research UK, The British Heart Foundation and All Stars Boxing Club.
Calendars can be bought from www.allstars-gym.co.uk & www.ashleytheophane.com
MACCABI HAIFA ISRAELI BASKETBALL TEAM TO SPONSOR DMITRIY “STAR OF DAVID” SALITA FOR UPCOMING FIGHT FOR THE WBA JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BELT
Maccabi Haifa logo to be featured on Orthodox Jewish Boxer’s trunks, robe, and website
AVENTURA, Florida – Triangle Financial Services, a sports and entertainment firm based in Aventura, Fla., which owns the Maccabi Haifa Israeli professional basketball team, announced today the team will sponsor Dmitriy “Star of David” Salita for his upcoming bout against WBA Junior Welterweight champion Amir Khan on December 5 in Newcastle, England.
“Dmitriy is a hero in the eyes of the Maccabi Haifa organization and the Jewish community in general,” said Triangle Chairman and Maccabi Haifa owner Jeffrey Rosen. “Triangle and Maccabi Haifa will continue to support Jewish athletes who are making an impact in both the Jewish community and their respective sport. We wish Dmitriy all the best for his upcoming fight and Maccabi Haifa is behind him 100 percent.”
“I am proud to be associated with an organization like Maccabi Haifa,” said Salita. “I was inspired by how involved the team is in the Jewish community with their Haifa Hoops for Kids program, which brings underprivileged and special needs Israeli children to their games. I am honored to wear the Maccabi Haifa logo during my next fight.”
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About Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa, an Israeli Premier League basketball team, has a long and storied legacy as they were one of the original eight teams to form the Premier League during the 1954 season. This past season under the ownership of American businessman Jeffrey Rosen, the team earned an appearance in both the Premier League Finals as well as the State Cup Finals in the team’s first season back in the Premier League after a 10-year absence. The team was purchased by Jeffrey Rosen in July 2007. For more information about Maccabi Haifa, please visit www.mhbasket.co.il.
About Triangle Financial Services
Triangle Financial Services, a sports and entertainment investment firm based in Aventura, Fla., has a diverse portfolio of international sports enterprises. The recent acquisition of the Maccabi Haifa professional basketball team in Israel along with the launch of Triangleinternet.tv the first-ever Internet TV site to feature full-length Israeli Premier League games and highlights in English, represent Triangle’s continued effort to invest in emerging international sports ventures. For more information on Triangle Financial Services, please visit www.trianglefs.com