Jul 7, 2009 | Sports
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.
Feb 4, 2009 | Sports
Live boxing action in the Arena on Friday, March 6th
Top welterweight contender Delvin Rodriguez (23-2-2,14KOs), ranked #5 in the IBF, will face off against Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez (20-1-0,11KOs), ranked #15 in the IBF, in a must-see match-up of two of boxing’s top welterweights on March 6th at 7:00pm at Mohegan Sun. The bout, scheduled for twelve rounds for Rodriguez’s USBA Welterweight Championship, will be shown live as the main event on that evening’s ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” telecast.
Tickets are $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.
Rodriguez who hails from Danbury, CT is coming off a twelve-round draw to Isaac Hlatshwayo on November 17th in Hlatshwayo’s home country of South Africa. The fight was an official IBF eliminator for the #1 spot. Now Rodriguez will defend his USBA Welterweight Championship and look to put himself in the position to challenge for a world championship in 2009 when he collides with Alvarez. Unlike his battle with Hlatshwayo, Rodriguez will have a strong contingent of fans and supporters on-hand at Mohegan Sun.
“March 6th at Mohegan Sun is going to be one exciting night of boxing,” stated Joe DeGuardia, CEO of Star Boxing. “This fight matches two of boxing’s top welterweights in the world going toe-to-toe in what promises to be an all-action affair.”
“I’m excited, this is going to be a great fight with Shamone,” said Rodriguez. “Shamone is very skilled and always comes to fight so I know I will have to be at my absolute best come March 6th. I am looking forward to returning to Connecticut and getting a chance to fight in front of all my hometown fans. It’s going to be a great night of boxing that no one will want to miss.”
Alvarez is a very skilled, crafty southpaw, whose only loss as a professional came in an official IBF title eliminator to current world champion Joshua Clottey. Since that loss, Alvarez has rebounded, winning a decision in his last fight against welterweight contender, and U.S. Olympian Terrance Cauthen.
“Delvin is a heck of a fighter. I know what I am going to be up against when we face off against each other on the 6th,” said Alvarez. “But if I want to be the best I am going to have to beat the best, and I consider Delvin one of the best welterweights in the world. One thing that I do know though is that it’s going to be a great fight. I am going to be bringing my A game and I expect Delvin to do the same, which will only make for a great fight for the fans in attendance and the fans watching at home on ESPN2 to see.”
“Both of these guys are so hungry right now, they are both in the primes of their careers and they know what a win in this fight, which is going to be nationally televised on ESPN2, does for their careers,” said DeGuardia. “I foresee the winner of this fight challenging for a welterweight championship some time later on in the year. Delvin and Shamone are very similar in the sense that they are both very humble men outside of the ring, but once they lace up those gloves, both of these guys hit a switch and turn into warriors. With so much at stake, this is a must-see match-up for any boxing fan.”
An extremely exciting and talent-packed undercard, with Providence, RI native and 2008 Olympian Demetrius Andrade, will soon be announced.
For more information on Friday Night Fights 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.
