Rodriguez “Homecoming”
Thursday night in Worcester
March 17, 2009
(MAR 17) WORCESTER, Mass. –
Undefeated middleweight/super middleweight sensation Edwin “La Bomba”
Rodriguez has his “Homecoming,” promoted by DiBella Entertainment in
association with Manfredo’s Gym, all set for Thursday night (March 19)
veteran Patrick Thompson in the 8-round main event at historic Mechanics
Hall. “Homecoming” will be taped live as part of DiBella’s “Broadway
Boxing Series,” which will be shooting in New England for the first
time, from the beautiful Mechanic’s Hall venue that hasn’t hosted pro
boxing since 1967.
The 23-year-old Dominican Republic-born sensation Rodriguez (9-0, 6
KOs), fighting out of Worcester, was a 2-time national amateur champion,
capturing gold in the 2005 USA Boxing National Championships and 2006
U.S. Golden Gloves Championships.
Thompson (15-13-1, 5 KOs), reigning Colorado/Nebraska super middleweight
champion, has defeated former Canadian champion Jason Naugler and gone
the distance with present IBF mandatory middleweight title challenger
Giovanni Lorenzo, John Duddy, Joe Greene, Vanes Martirosyan, Sechew
Powell, and Ishe Smith. Thompson has been stopped only once, 5-½ years
ago, by Alfonso Gomez of The Contender I fame.
“All I wanted is coming together Thursday night,” Rodriguez said. “I’m
fighting on television for my new promoter (Lou DiBella) in front of my
friends, family and hometown fans. It’s a great feeling. I’m so excited
to showcase my talent in my hometown for the first time as a pro and to
a television audience. What more could I ask for? I’m learning more each
fight and improving every time out. I’ve been working hard in the gym on
different things like sitting more on my punches. This is only my 10th
pro fight and I’ve been better in each one.
“I know Thompson is tough and he’s been in with a lot of good,
world-class fighters. I’m more concerned with what I need to do to be
the best Edwin Rodriguez than what he’s bringing. I know he’s only been
knocked out once. I’m not going in looking for a knockout but, if it
comes, I’ll gladly take it. I just can’t wait for Thursday night.”
The 8-round co-feature is an intriguing match-up between a promising
prospect, “Buddy" McGirt-trained super bantamweight Dat “Dat Be Dat”
Nguyen (14-1, 6 KOs), and proven veteran, former world title challenger
Alex “Ali” Baba (26-14-1, 19 KOs), who has tested WBC flyweight champion
Pongsaklek Wontongkam, Raul Martinez and Eric Morel..
Fighting on the undercard in 4-round bouts are Quincy (MA) lightweight
Ryan Kielczewski (3-0), 2008 National Golden Gloves runner-up, vs. Aaron
Chavez (2-1); Brooklyn middleweight Philip Jackson Benson (2-0), 2-time
New York Golden Gloves champion vs. Dameon Mitchell (0-1); Steven Ormond
(2-0), 3-time Irish national amateur champion in his U. S. debut vs.
Jonathan Ocasio (0-3); Providence light heavyweight Valar Boise makes
his debut vs. Brockton’s Houston Crayton (0-3); Fall River welterweight
Dustin Rhinehold and Valdrin Muriqi make their pro debuts against each
other.
Tickets, priced at $25.00, $50.00 (balcony), $75.00 (first row balcony),
$60.00 (floor), $100.00 (floor), and $150.00 (ringside – first 2 rows
inside security barriers), are on sale at the Mechanics Hall box office,
www.mechanicshall.org, Manfredo’s Gym in Pawtucket (RI), and the Boys &
Girls Club of Worcester. Doors open at 6:30 PM/ET, first bout at 7:00
PM/ET. Source/PR - Bob Trieger
