Edwin Rodriguez Makes Reappearance on Boxing’s National Scene

by

Mar 19, 2010

Edwin Rodriguez Makes Reappearance on Boxing's National Scene I documented the Lowell Golden Gloves tournament at Lowell Memorial Auditorium in 2005 and had the privilege of meeting a few promising athletes. Danny O'Connor, Demetrius Andrade and Edwin Rodriguez were just three of the many boxers I spoke to that night. Because of their boxing skills, personality and potential, I kept an eye on their careers.

O'Connor went on to become an Olympic alternate at the Beijing Olympics and later turned pro in Manchester, N.H. He's now 10-0 with three knockouts and is headlining his first card Friday night at Twin River Casino in Rhode island.

Andrade was a medal hopeful in Beijing, but he bowed out of the Games unexpectedly. He is now a pro with a 9-0, seven-KO record, and has several national television appearances under his belt.

Even though I follow boxing pretty closely, I seemed to lose track, though, of Rodriguez, a smiley kid from Worcester who seemed so excited about the chance to go to the nationals.

But when I finally caught up Rodriguez, I found out that between that Golden Gloves tournament and our latest meeting, it had been a long and bumpy road for the now 25-year-old fighter. But as difficult as it was, he says he wouldn't change it for anything.

Following the Lowell tournament, Rodriguez went on to win several national tournaments, including the U.S. Nationals that same year and the National Golden Gloves tournament in 2006. He seemed be on the same Olympic path as his fellow New Englanders O'Connor and Andrade. 

Then, in November of 2006, his fiancee, Stephanie Rapa, gave birth to twins, Edwin Jr. and Serena Lynn, 17 weeks premature. They were not in good health and had to be kept on life support. Edwin and Stephanie were faced with questions that no one should have to answer, especially new parents. 

Edwin's manager and friend, Larry Army, said he feels most people wouldn't have been able to handle the situation as well as the young couple did.

"He had to deal with the questions," Army said, "like 'Do you take the children off life support? Do you continue to keep them on life support [when] the chances are that they'll have a life full of health issues?'" 

According to Army, Edwin didn't fare well in the Olympic trials because he and his wife were dealing with these issues with their young children.

"These are decisions that are tough for anybody at any age," Army said, "but you put a 21-year-old young man into those decisions, and it becomes overwhelming. … He didn't do what he could've done [at the trials] because his head wasn't in the game. … I don't think that anybody's head would've been in the game with that type of situation."

Rodriguez said that period was the toughest of his life, and he admits to being "bitter" watching the Olympics that year, but he said he wouldn't change one single thing.

"It was something that I worked so hard to accomplish," Rodriguez said. "And I'm one of those persons that I work hard for what I want, and I wanted to be an Olympian, and for certain reasons it didn't happen.

"If I had an opportunity to do it over again, I would pick my kids any day of the week."

Edwin Jr. and Serena Lynn are now at home, and Edwin says they are enjoying a happy life. Edwin Jr. was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and Serena Lynn has undergone surgery for paralyzed vocal chords. But just like their dad, they fight through the tough times and come out the other side with smiles on their faces.

"Every day is a new experience," the proud father said, "and [we do] whatever we can do to try and help them get better and have better lives. We are just trying to do as much as possible to make them happy … and they are happy kids."

If you think for a split second that Rodriguez still regrets missing the Olympics, you simply need to hear him speak about his kids and you will be convinced otherwise. He is like any parent, lighting up with emotion when talking about the strides his son has made.

"[Edwin Jr.], he's 2 1/2 now and he just started walking, but that made my day. Not my day — that made my life," Rodriguez said with a giddy sort of pride.

He describes his daughter Serena Lynn the same way and says that she is, of course, "Daddy's girl."

Edwin has moved on from his troubles and refocused his energy on boxing, this time as a professional. He was a solid amateur and his trainer, Peter Manfredo Sr., thinks that he could be an even better professional.

"Edwin has a lot of potential to become a world champion," said Manfredo. "He's a hard worker, he's devoted and dedicated to the game. He's learning at a rapid pace."

Rodriguez turned pro without much fanfare, but unlike his two friends, he didn't sign with a promoter right away. Army, his manager, says most thought the worst.

"In boxing, when you disappear from the national scene the way Edwin [did], most people think that you're doing drugs or you're in jail. Nobody took the time to realize that this kid had actual issues that had nothing to do with him not being a great person."

So, again, instead of taking the easy road, team Rodriguez decided to go it alone. Army would basically guarantee ticket sales for booking his fighter on other promoters' cards. If they couldn't sell those tickets? Well, team Rodriguez would foot the bill. Army says that even though it was risky, there was a rationale to his method: "We got seven or eight fights right in a row, every three weeks at one point."

Most boxing trainers will tell you that keeping a young boxer busy is very important to his development. Rodriguez seems to have really enjoyed that development process.

"Every day, [Manfredo has] got a new challenge for me, and I'm learning," Rodriguez said. "I'm having fun and [doing] what I'm doing. … This is what it's all about: keep learning so you can be the best in the world."
 
Fast forward to the present. Edwin is now 13-0 with nine KOs, is now signed with national promoter Lou DiBella and has been featured in The Ring Magazine as a "New Face." Edwin is excited about all his progress.

"I'm thrilled about that … top prospect of the year. It doesn't get better than that at this point in my career," he said.

Rodriguez should be a fighter to watch from here on out. He's not only naturally athletic, but he's a smart boxer with speed, agility and — best of all — power. Edwin also knows how to finish off fighters when he gets them in trouble. He has also kept busy and been stepped up in an aggressive way, which speaks volumes to how much confidence his team has in him.

I'm glad I found Edwin after all these years, and I'm happy that his life seems to be on a much smoother path these days. The undefeated fighter, however, says something is still missing.

"I'm happy the way my life is now," he said. "I'm undefeated, I have two beautiful children, I have a happy family, I have a nice home. I'm just missing that belt, and I will have it in a year or two."

You can see Edwin Rodriguez make his national television debut on ESPN Friday Night Fights, airing Friday, March 18 at 10 p.m. ET.

Photo courtesy of Emily Harney.

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