By James Stillerman – Rising super middleweight contender, Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriquez, 19-0, 14KOs tries to keep his undefeated record intact when he takes on his toughest opponent to date, Will Rosinsky 14-0, 8KOs at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut in a ten round bout on October 21st which will be televised on Showtime.
This will be Rodriquez`s third bout this year. The other two fights he emerged victorious, winning a unanimous ten round decision over Aaron Pryor Jr. 16-4, 11KOs. In his last bout and his first fight since having shoulder surgery, he destroyed Iraq War veteran, Chris Traietti 10-3, 6KOs, whom he punished for two rounds after which Traietti quit on his stool because he had broken ribs, curtsey of Rodriquez`s punching power.
“I would only give myself a B for that fight against Traietti,” said Rodriquez. “Yes, I did obtain the victory and did so in dominating fashion; however I felt there were some things that I need to work on including having a better jab and using my combinations more often.”
The hard working orthodox pugilist is never satisfied with his performance in the ring and is always trying to get better and better for each fight. All of Rodriquez`s hard work, dedication and goal driven mentality is a significant reason behind him moving up the ranks in the super middleweight division. He is ranked in the top 15 by four major world boxing organizations: number 6 by the WBC, 8 by the IBF and WBA and number 12 by the WBO. In addition to his victory over Pryor Jr., he had a technical knockout win over James McGirt Jr. 22-3 11KOs in the ninth round and in the process garnered the vacant WBC and USNBC Super Middleweight Belt. Rodriquez has won almost every round he has fought in.
“I am extremely happy with what I have been able to accomplish so far in my career and I am right where I want to be,” said Rodriquez. “I am ranked high in a couple of major boxing organizations and after fighting two or three more top ten fighters, I will be ready to fight for a world title eliminator by the middle of next year and then a world title fight by the end of next year.”
Nevertheless, despite the Worcester, Massachusetts native`s early success, thus far in his professional career and his desire to have significant fights within the next couple of months, he is solely focused for his upcoming fight with Rosinsky.
“I am having a great training camp and everything is going real well. I am not taking Rosinsky lightly at all because he is a great all around fighter, he is undefeated and he has had an outstanding amateur career where he won the 2005 Light Heavyweight U.S.A. Amateur Champion and was a four time New York Golden Gloves Champion. I know he can box, however I am going to be more than ready on October 21st to beat him,” said Rodriquez.
Rodriquez is sparring with Chad “Bad” Dawson in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania where Dawson is training for his showdown with Bernard Hopkins on Showtime on October 15 for the WBC light heavyweight title. Rodriquez is gaining invaluable exposure and experience from this former world champion fighter, which will benefit him as he moves up this weight class.
When he enters the ring on October 21st Ronnie Shields will be in Rodriquez`s corner for the second time, replacing longtime trainer, Peter Manfredo Sr. who was with him since he turned professional in January 2008, when he knocked out Samuel Ortiz in the first round.
“Manfredo Sr. was a great trainer, but my manager, trainer and I all felt there were certain things in my boxing game that needed to be addressed and they were not being fixed, so we felt we needed to make a change,” said Rodriquez. “Shields is a great trainer and is teaching me the fundaments of the sport. I respect and trust him and have a great deal of confidence that he can correct some of my flaws in my fight game and make me one of the best fighters in the sport.”
The 26 year old six foot, Rodriquez is no stranger to success. He had a prolific amateur career where he garnered an impressive 84-9 record. His amateur career was highlighted by winning the USA Boxing National Light Heavyweight Champion in 2005 and then the following year, he won the National Golden Gloves Champion at 165 pounds. He had an extremely good chance at obtaining a spot on the United States Olympic Boxing team; however when his fiancée, Stephanie Rapa had two twins, Edwin Jr. and Serena Lynn, they were born prematurely and had other medical complications (which have since went away). It dashed his dreams of making the team as he turned professional, as a way to provide for his family during those difficult times.
“The super middleweight division is the best division in boxing and I want to prove to everyone that I belong in this division. I want to be a household name and to do that I have to fight the best and that is what I tend to do. Next year I am willing to fight Bute, Froch, Ward, Kessler, among others. It does not matter who my manager, Larry Amy or promoter, Lou Dibella put in front of me I will fight them,” said Rodriquez.
Look for 2012 to be an important year for “La Bomba” as he competes against the best the division has to offer and makes his way to the top of the super middleweight division, as this journey to become the best fighter in the weight class continues on October 21st against Rosinsky.
A special thanks to Bob Trieger for facilitating this interview and to Edwin Rodriquez for taking time out of his busy training camp to allow me to interview him.