DiBella's Newest Boxing Star Shines in Worcester, MA

Article by Peter Czymbor for 8countnews.com

Undefeated prospect Edwin Rodriguez (10-0, 7 KO’s) put an exclamation point on his first pro fight in his hometown of Worcester, MA, by becoming just the second fighter to stop Lincoln, Nebraska’s Patrick Thompson (15-14-1, 5 KO’s) Thursday night at Mechanics Hall.

Thompson’s corner threw in the towel, promoting the referee to stop the bout at 2:11 of the second round of the scheduled eight round super-middleweight bout.

Rodriguez outworked his opponent through the first frame. In the second round, he nailed Thompson with a huge right hand sending him to the canvas much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

“He came to fight, but I caught him with a perfect punch”, Rodriguez told 8countnews.com afterwards.

Thompson made it to his feet but the follow up barrage was too much for his corner to handle. They threw in the towel and Rodriguez earned himself a second-round TKO victory.

After two consecutive decision wins against step up competition, Rodriguez has now earned himself back to back knockouts.

Rodriguez trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. was very pleased with his performance.

“We’ve been working on little fundamentals in the gym. Edwin’s a good solid pro now and not showing any of the amateur boxing characteristics that he used to. He’s working off the jab, turning and stepping around his opponent, and looking better and better everyday.” Manfredo Sr. said following the fight.

This was Rodriguez’s first fight under the Dibella Entertainment umbrella. The fight was taped for future broadcast on the popular syndicated Broadway Boxing series.

“He’s a special fighter. As good as any Olympian from the 2008 class”, said promoter Lou Dibella.

Rodriguez is next expected to be in action Apr. 25 at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, CT on the non-televised undercard of the Carl Froch–Jermain Taylor super middleweight title fight.

His opponent will most likely be Eddie Caminero (5-0, 5 KO’s), another unbeaten Massachusetts based middleweight / super middleweight.

“After seeing that, Eddie Caminero will be afraid to sign the contract”, said Rodriguez manager Larry Army.

Caminero, who was in attendance for the fight, showed no fear in his comments afterwards.

“I’ll let him enjoy his victory tonight because he’s going to get defeated for the first time by me”, said Caminero, who added “I’m going to knock him out….I’m waiting for them to send the contract.”

Rodriguez seemed just as confident as his probable opponent in his next bout saying, “I’ve known Eddie Caminero for awhile now and I’ve sparred with him, but when we fight I fear for his health.”

For Patrick Thompson, his record is now barely above the .500 mark. Previously, he lost to such noteworthy fighters as John Duddy, Ishe Smith, Giovanni Lorenzo, and Pawel Wolak. His only prior stoppage defeat was to Alfonso Gomez in a welterweight fight in 2003.

In the evening’s undercard, junior lightweight Ryan “The Polish Prince” Kielczewski (4-0, 1 KO) fighting out of Quincy, MA, stopped Vero beach, FL’s Aaron Chavez at 2:44 of the third round. A monstrous uppercut sent Chavez to the floor and when he beat the count, was unsteady and referee Bob Benoit deemed him unfit to continue.

Queens, NY middleweight Phillip Jackson Benson (3-0, 3 KO’s) scored two knockdowns against Richmond, VA’s Dameon Marshall (0-2) en route to a second round TKO win. Official time of the TKO was 1:32 of the second round.

Junior middleweight Dustin Rheinhold (1-0, 1 KO), a former standout amateur making his pro debut after a nine-and-a-half year prison sentence for involuntary manslaughter, made up for lost time with an impressive fourth round TKO of New York’s Valdrin Muriqi (0-1), another fighter making his pro debut and brother of light heavyweight Elvir Muriqui.

Cornered by Peter Manfredo Sr., Rheinhold was in control throughout teeing off on the too tough for his own good Muriqui. Muriqui was never knocked down, but was eating plenty of unanswered blows when referee Bob Benoit stopped the fight at 0:42 of the fourth round.

Rheinhold, fighting out of nearby Providence, RI, had many supportive friends and family in attendance including a very proud mother.

Another Providence fighter, light heavyweight Valar Boise (1-0, 1 KO) had a similarly successful pro debut earlier in the evening when he stopped Brockton, MA’s Huston Crayton (0-4) at 1:17 of the second round.

In the opening fight of the night, Dublin, Ireland lightweight Stephen Ormond (3-0, 1 KO), now fighting out of Long Island, NY, scored a stoppage victory over Philadelphia’s Jonathan Ocasio (0-4) when Ocasio quit on his stool following the first round.

Go to 8countnews.com for all boxing photos from this event!