By Mario Ortega Jr.
After a year of cancellations due to everything from opponent pullouts to promoted events that never took place after false weather reports or multiple postponements, Salinas, California-based super flyweight prospect Andrew Rodriguez will finally get to ply his trade in the United States for the first time as a professional this coming Saturday, just 130 miles north of home, at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton. For Rodriguez, fighting at the Minor League Baseball stadium represents his first opportunity to show his local fanbase that, after years of perfecting his craft, he is ready for the major league of pro boxing.
Rodriguez (3-0, 1 KO) entered the paid ranks in February of last year, earning a unanimous decision win over a 32-fight veteran in Rosarito, Mexico. For the former National Junior Golden Gloves champion, traveling south for his debut represented the culmination of years of hard work in the gym, dating back to Rodriguez’s early years of grade school.
“It was pretty wild,” recalls Rodriguez of his debut. “It was like stepping into a new world. You don’t exactly forget about the amateurs, but you have to understand this is the real deal now. You can lose your life in boxing. One wrong hit and it is over. It was an eye opener. I had to tell myself, all the stuff you do outside of the gym is just as important as everything you do in the gym. I take that information I told myself and try to apply it to every day. Whenever I am in the boxing ring as a professional, I need to take care of myself.”
After notching his first knockout two months later in Tijuana, Mexico, Rodriguez was slated to make his stateside debut last April in Santa Ynez, California. After matchmakers for the event could not find an opponent willing to fight Rodriguez at his weight class, the super flyweight stayed the course in the gym, only to have several more agreed to dates fall apart that fall and into early this year. Rodriguez returned to the ring this past April, almost one year to the day of his last fight, scoring a four-round unanimous decision over 32-bout veteran Julio Jacobo back at the Evolution Club in Tijuana.
“I was glad I went to get those cobwebs out of the way and he was a tough, game fighter,” says Rodriguez of the Jacobo fight. “It was a good fight and it went all four rounds for a unanimous decision win. If the knockout comes, it comes, but I would rather look good the whole fight, than have a shitty performance with a knockout win. I am glad I got that experience for my second full, four-round fight. It felt good after being without a fight for almost a full year. It was good to get in there, get the jitters out and it prepared me mentally for what is coming next.”
Next up for Rodriguez is a familiar face in Alejandro Robles (0-3) of Modesto, California this Saturday night. After a year of gearing up for bouts that never came to fruition in his home country, the Salinas product had to have a pragmatic view of the proposed date until his opponent signed and it still may not feel like a reality until they step on the scale Friday in Stockton.
“We got this date in Stockton to finally make my U.S. debut and I was hoping and praying it was going to come through,” says Rodriguez of when the July 20th date was first discussed. “Especially since we didn’t get that call [on the opponent] until late June. So when we got that contract, that was the confirmation stamp that we finally got it. We signed the contract, so it is official.”
When Rodriguez was offered the fight, his opponent’s name rang familiar, even though he had never been offered to fight him over the last year of searching for bouts in California. After doing some digging, Rodriguez came across an old fight tape and realized they had shared a ring before.
“I just remembered recently, I had fought him in the Golden Gloves in 2022,” says Rodriguez. “We fought back then and I came out victorious. For a while I didn’t recognize him, but I went back into some old files from amateurs and found out for sure that I had fought him. That was the amateurs though, and it is a whole different game in the pros. You can never underestimate anybody. In the pros, all it takes is that one hit. So looking at him, I am taking it like he is undefeated. He has that chip on his shoulder and I am pretty sure he knows who I am. So we are coming strong, coming hard for him.”
Despite Robles’ winless pro record, Rodriguez is expecting his foe to come ready and be the best version of himself possible.
“In his eyes, it has to be a make or break and against a guy that beat him in amateurs,” explains Rodriguez. “He’s fighting close to home for him, so I know he is coming to fight. I am not overlooking him or taking him lightly. I know I beat him in the amateurs, but it is a whole different game in the pros. We have eight ounce gloves on. I am coming mentally ready and physically strong. I’ve had some great work this camp and I feel it will all display this Saturday, July 20th.”
In preparation for this fight, Rodriguez was in camp with his godbrother and featherweight contender Ruben Villa. The two also traveled to Riverside, California to get work with Robert Garcia’s vast stable of fighters before Villa wrapped up camp for his fight, which took place last Saturday.
“I got some great work with all undefeated guys, working in the heat out there,” explains Rodriguez of his time in Riverside at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. “I got to turn heads and earn some respect out there from them.”
Back home, finishing up his in-ring preparation, Rodriguez spent time in the squared circle with undefeated super bantamweight prospect Anthony Garnica in Oakland, California, who fights next month. “Garnica is a really solid fighter and one of the best fighters at my weight that I can get work with in the area,” says Rodriguez.
Should things go according to plan on Saturday, Rodriguez and his team are eyeing potential dates locally in October and November to hopefully keep things rolling into 2025.
“I want to get one or two more fights before the end of the year,” exclaims Rodriguez. “From there, hopefully five fights next year. I just want to stay active going into 2025 and hopefully be a lot busier all of next year.”
Rodriguez, who ideally wants to campaign at 115-pounds, but is willing to take fights in the 118-pound bantamweight division, wants to build his career locally as much as possible and solidify his brand, joining Salinas’ storied line of professional fighters.
“I feel a lot of people don’t know who I really am, just because all my pro fights have been in Mexico,” explains Rodriguez. “I took a break from the amateurs when I was about thirteen, so a lot of people didn’t really get to know me. I do wish my name was a little more out there. That is why we are working right now. I just have to keep working and my time will eventually come. I hope to put on an amazing performance this Saturday and turn a lot more heads.”
Despite all the trouble landing local fights, Rodriguez has continued to gain support from family, friends and fans throughout his early journey in the paid ranks. “Superfly” had a large contingent make the journey to Rosarito for his debut last year and plans to reward everyone that makes the shorter drive north as he fights on the undercard of the first boxing event ever held at Banner Island Ballpark this weekend.
“I want to thank everyone for all the support,” says Rodriguez. “I know it has been a bumpy first year-and-a-half and I appreciate everyone that has trusted the process, sticking with me through all these fallouts. I just can’t wait to put on this performance on Saturday and show everyone what they have been missing out on.”
Tickets for the event, promoted by G-Squad Entertainment and available via pay-per-view on the BLK Prime streaming service, are available online at gsquadent.com
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected]
