WPCNR RINGSIDE. From Star Boxing. August 15, 2007: On August 24th Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing is back with the 5th installment of its popular boxing series “Punchin’ at the Paradise” at the Utopia Paradise Theater in the Bronx. The main event features Dominican Dynamo Delvin Rodriguez (20-2-1, 12KO’s) making his first ring appearance since his March 23 thrill-a-minute slugfest with Jesse Feliciano when he takes on Keenan Collins (12-2-1, 8KO’s) of Reading, PA.
Delvin Rodriguez (in white trunks) clocks Sugarfoot McClendon with an express right with everything on it in Round 6 to begin the finish to the Main Event at the County Center, November, 2005. Photo, WPCNR Sports
No other fighter in recent memory has produced more KO highlight’s for ESPN2 then the hard-hitting Delvin Rodriguez. From knocking undefeated Allen Conyers through the ropes and onto the floor, to dropping Chris Henry--producing a spectacular KO is an art, Delvin is the DiVinci of the Masterpiece KO .
"You throw your right hand, you punch the guy, and the next thing you know he's falling down. You feel the impact, but it's like you just touched him and he's down," Delvin said in a recent interview with ESPN’s Joe Tessitore.
On August 24th, Delvin Rodriguez will take Friday Night Fights to another level of showmanship, skill, and talent by pulling out all the stops. “I want all my people out in the Bronx, Washington Heights, and all of NYC to come out to the fights on August 24th. I know with all of “mi gente” (my people) supporting me I’m going to win big.”
Rodriguez, hailing from Danbury Connecticut is a stylish, intense fighter who is all heart. Here is what WPCNR reported on his fight at the County Center two years ago, November 23, 2005:
Danbury Del Rodriguez's 6 Round TKO of Sugarfoot McClendon on Rodriguez's combinations to die for , had McLendon against the ropes in the last round. The relentless and patient Rodriguez boxed the Colombus (Ohio) brawler superbly, caught him with a series in the fifth started by a left jab and right cross, then finished him off in the sixth with an overhand right and a followup left from way down underneath that put McClendon on the ropes where Rodriguez (17-1-1, 10 KOs) took him apart with a left, right, right,left driving him to his knees, and Referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight.
In the co-feature, Undefeated Puerto Rican Cruiserweight Alfredo Escalera Jr, (14-0, 11KO’s) son of legendary super featherweight champion Alfredo “Salsero” Escalera, makes his NY debut when he takes on Harvie Jolley (6-4-1, 3KO’s) of Detroit, MI. Escalera Jr. has KO’d 10 opponents before the 4th round, and 6 opponents didn’t even get past the 1st round. Don’t blink
On the undercard, undefeated Jr. Welterweight prospect “The New” Ray Robinson (3-0) will face Willie Diamond (7-9-1, 3KO’s) of Little Rock, AR. Robinson continues to turn heads with not only his name, but with his superb boxing skills. In April, Robinson beat Puerto Rican Olympic alternate Roberto Acevedo.
Two of NYC’s most popular female fighters will clash in a NYC turf war. NABF Atomweight Champion Suzannah Warner (7-4, 2 KO’s) takes on the former three-time NY Daily News Golden Glove Champ Eileen Olszewski (3-0)in a special 6-round attraction.
Undefeated Jr. Welterweight Joel Torres (7-0, 4KO’s) of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico takes on Daniel Sostre (4-2, 1KO) of Newburgh, NY in a 6-rounder.
“Semper-Fi”, Yonkers Cruiserweight Jon “The Fighting Marine” Schneider (4-1, 3KO’s) goes up against Wade Gilbert (1-0, 1KO) of Little Rock, AR in a 4-rounder. In his last outing, Schneider blitzed his opponent, Travis Waters, and put him away in spectacular fashion scoring a KO 0:40 into round one.
Doors open at 6:30 PM and the first fight goes on at 7:30 PM.Tickets are reasonably priced and can be purchased at Utopia’s Paradise Theater box office (718) 220-6143, at all Ticketmaster outlets, Ticketmaster.com or by calling Star Boxing at (718) 823-6600.
