Delvin Rodriguez vs. Isaac Hlatshwayo II for IBF Belt
On Saturday, August 1st, IBF #2 rated Delvin Rodriguez (24-2-2, 14 KOs) of Danbury, CT will fight for the Vacant IBF Welterweight Championship of the World when he takes on IBF #3 rated Isaac Hlatshwayo (28-1-1, 10 KOs) in a rematch of their highly entertaining draw that took place last November in Hlatshwayo’s home country of South Africa. Rodriguez vs. Hlatshwayo is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and is set to take place at Mohegan Sun beginning at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $125.00, $75.00, $45.00 and $30.00 and are on sale now at the Mohegan Sun Box Office and through Ticketmaster. Ticketmaster customers may log on to ticketmaster.com; call Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge By Phone number 1.800.745.3000; or visit any Ticketmaster outlet.
“Of course I was not happy after the first fight. I know I won the fight, most people who watched the fight, including the South African press know I won the fight, the only people who didn’t seem to know were two of the three judges,” stated Rodriguez. “I went into his backyard and fought him and then we set the rematch to be over here in the states and he wouldn’t come. So instead of waiting around for him I took on Shamone Alvarez and beat him, earning the #2 spot in the IBF ratings. Isaac is rated # 3, so the only way he can win the title is by going through me and I promise you that there is no way that is going to happen.”
“I know I am going to knock him out this time around so the scorecards won’t matter. I know that I can take his best punches and that he can not take mine. In the rematch I am going to go right at him from the opening bell until I knock him out. It is going to be great to have all my fans there supporting me and cheering me on to victory. I have a bad taste left in my mouth from November 17th. I plan on getting rid of it in spectacular fashion come this August and fulfilling my life long dream of being the Welterweight Champion of the world.”
“The first fight was a good fight, definitely worthy of a rematch. While I think its noteworthy that the press in South Africa thought Delvin won the fight, as did I, it is going to be a great rematch and I am looking forward to August 1st, not backward,” stated Rodriguez promoter Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing who was ringside for the bout.
In their first encounter, the two battled to a twelve-round split draw. Those watching the fight, including many of the South African press, felt that although the fight was close, Rodriguez did more than enough to pull out the victory. Rodriguez was the busier fighter; landed more punches and even dropped Hlatshwayo hard in the 9th. Unfortunately for the Dominican native Rodriguez, who now resides in Danbury, CT, it was still not enough in the judges’ eyes to award him with the victory.
“Delvin promised me that if he gets a rematch against Hlatshwayo in the U.S. that he is going to knock him out. We delivered on our end by winning the purse bid, now Delvin must deliver on his, and trust me when I tell you I couldn’t be more confident that he will,” stated DeGuardia.
An extremely exciting and talent-packed undercard, with Providence, RI native and 2008 Olympian Demetrius Andrade, will soon be announced.
For more information on this and other great events at Mohegan Sun, visit mohegansun.com. For information on this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711, ext. 27163.
