ESPN'S "FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS" RESULTS FROM MOHEGAN SUN
January 1, 2009SUPERSTAR IN THE MAKING
January 1, 2009On March 6th, Delvin Rodriguez (23-2-2, 14KO) will look to defend his USBA welterweight championship, and earn the number two ranking in the IBF world ratings when he takes on highly touted welterweight contender Shamone “The Truth” Alvarez (20-1, 11KO). The bout will take place at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, CT and be broadcast live as that evening’s ESPN2 “Friday Night Fights” main event.
To get prepared for the slick southpaw Alvarez, Rodriguez and his camp called on the services of two of Star Boxing’s other prized fighter’s Raymond “Tito” Serrano (8-0, 5KO) and Demetrius “Boo Boo” Andrade (2-0, 2KO), who coincidently will both be fighting on the undercard on March 6th. Andrade will open the “Friday Night Fights” telecast with Serrano fighting in the live co-feature.
Although Rodriguez lives in Danbury, CT he trains in the Catskills, at his manager Stan Hoffman’s training camp in Kerhonkson, NY. Hoffman has owned and operated the camp, which is made up of a Victorian mansion, a separate three bedroom house, a cabin, a full operating boxing gym, and an outdoor track, for the last 25 years. The camp can house up to 19 fighters at one time.
“This is the second straight camp that Serrano has come up to help me prepare for a fight, but this was the first time I worked with Demetrius though,” stated Rodriguez. “I really appreciate them coming up here and working with me. They are two really good prospects and I see a very bright future for both of them. As the more experienced professional I try to help them out in anyway I can, inside and outside the ring. Hopefully what I am trying to tell them will benefit them in their careers and make them better fighters, both physically and mentally.”
“Working with Delvin is a great learning experience for me at this stage of my career,” said the 19-year-old Serrano who will compete in his first scheduled eight rounder and first nationally televised co-feature when he takes on once beaten “Smokin” Jay Krupp (12-1, 5 KO). “We work really good together, and I think it’s great that we are both promoted by Star Boxing, and both being able to help each other out for our fight’s on March 6th.”
Andrade, the 2007 amateur world champion, and 2008 Olympian, voiced a similar opinion as Serrano. “It’s like we are one big happy family here at Star Boxing,” said Andrade with a smile. “I think it’s pretty special that the three of us are promoted by the same promoter (Andrade is also co-promoted by Art Pelullo’s Banner Promotions), all fighting on ESPN2, and all working together to help each other get ready for our upcoming fights. It is going to be a very exciting night of boxing and I foresee a clean sweep for Star Boxing on March 6th.”