OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – Former middleweight contender Aaron Coley makes his ring return, fighting at home for the first time in nearly a decade, when he takes on veteran Moris Rodriguez to headline “Straight Outta Oakland,” a ten-bout card co-promoted by G1 Promotions and Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions at the Oakland Marriott City Center this coming Saturday.
Coley (16-5-1, 7 KOs) of Oakland last saw ring action in 2022, suffering back-to-back defeats: a debatable eight-round split decision to Jamontay Clark and the only stoppage loss of his career to Serhii Bohachuk seven months later. After a nearly three-year hiatus, Coley’s return was ignited by his 11-year-old son Ahki’s dedication and success in the amateurs.
“The team, the people around me and my son motivated me to [return] just by him boxing and him wanting to see me in action,” explains Coley. “With him being a little bit older, he moved me by working his corner. It did get me going, because I wanted him to see me work and pick up some of the craft that I’ve got and the skills that I possess that other people don’t.”
In Coley’s time away from competition his son Ahki went from just getting his first fight or two under his belt to advancing to the semi-finals of the 75-pound weight division at the USA Boxing National Championships in December of last year. Now that Ahki is older and an accomplished competitor himself, there is an extra layer of excitement added to the elder Coley’s ring return.
“It is going to be great,” says Aaron about sharing this moment with his son. “Just hearing him say, ‘I really can’t wait to see you fight.’ That just gives me the chills. He wasn’t old enough to really see me when I was active and busy. When you are about three-years-old you really don’t understand the magnitude of things. Now that he has been on the big stage in the amateurs, at nationals, placing number three in the nation, he really knows the magnitude of the situation. So it is pretty big.”
Coley had been a road warrior throughout most of his career, but will make this ring return at home in Oakland, making it easy for Ahki and his entire fanbase in the Bay Area to be ringside when “Heavy Metal” begins this next phase of his career.
“It is awesome to get back because a lot of my people have been asking me when I would fight back at home,” explains Coley. “They did not realize that I was off for a little bit. [It is special] being able to kick it off at home before I get back on that road.”
Coley will have a familiar voice, but one new to his corner, when he makes his return this Saturday. Khamza, who came up in Bay Area gyms with Coley and amassed an unbeaten record before injuries forced him from the ring, now serves as his head trainer.
“Not only has he been my friend for so long, but we have been watching boxing and tapes together ever since we were training together at SFC, so that goes way back,” explains Coley. “We used to sit there for hours, watching different tapes and talking boxing. Now to have him in my corner, it is so easy. It just gel real smooth.”
Opposing Coley in the six-round bout on Saturday night will be fellow ring veteran Moris Rodriguez (8-17-3, 5 KOs) of Sacramento, California. Rodriguez, despite his uneven record, has proven to be a solid test for up-and-coming prospects as well as comebacking veterans in recent times. Rodriguez was last in action in February, forcing a majority draw against returning former prospect Delen Parsley. In his fight prior, Rodriguez dropped unbeaten Victor Guerrero early, before the tables were turned en route to a stoppage defeat. Despite their many years, each plugging away in Northern California gyms, Coley and Rodriguez never have crossed paths before.
“I have never seen him,” explains Coley. “It is crazy that I have never heard of him, being that I have been all over this part of Northern California, getting work. So he is new to me. I have not seen anything on him or expect anything from him. I really just got to come at my best. I know when I am at my best, there is really nothing you can do. When I am really doing my thing and boxing, there is really nothing you can do to come and rattle my cage.”
With nearly three years away to refresh his body, Coley believes now is the time to chart his course back to the big stage. The road back begins this Saturday, at home in Oakland.
“I just see getting back into championship contention,” says Coley about where this return will take him. “I was there once before, so just getting back to that green belt status, going after that WBC belt, that is what I am looking for. I want to get a shot at the top 160-pounders.”
Tickets for the event, promoted by Lion’s Den Boxing Promotions and G1 Promotions, are available online at g1promotions.com
Photo by Lina Baker/360 Promotions
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortegajr.mario@gmail.com
