Francisco Rodriguez, a boxer who won a Golden Gloves championship in 2001, died two days after collapsing following a bout in Philadelphia.According to boxing promoter Dominic Pesoli, the 25-year-old Rodriguez died Sunday night after losing a USBA super bantamweight bout against Teon Kennedy on Friday night.
Rodriguez underwent emergency brain surgery at Hahnemann University Hospital due to pressure in his brain from bleeding. But doctors listed his condition as extremely critical and determined that he would not recover.
Rodriguez had begun to lose consciousness after the fight was stopped in the 10th round.
Coming into the fight against Kennedy, Rodriguez was 14-2 with eight wins by way of knockout. He is survived by his wife Sonia and 5-month-old daughter Ginette.
Pesoli said a fund is being set up for Rodriguez's wife and infant daughter.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
very sad
Bless his wife and infant daughter.
just remember he was a husband and father,bless his so and family,in god eye's we all look the same to him,god bless the the family
Boxing is nothing less than sanctioned savagery.
The doctors "decided that he would not recover" is a strange way to put it. Perhaps "they determined he would not recover" would have been better. In any event, a sad ending for this young man.
I wonder how much he was paid? I don't imagine any amount seems worth it now. When will we evolve past the point of sanctioned beatings?
I'm a former boxer and boxing writer who has great difficulty with the sport these days. Seeing the number of great fighters who have wound up with their brains scrambled...Ali, Frazier, Tommy Hearns...is awful. I've stated repeatedly that if the sport continues, they should eliminate those yards and yards of gauze wraps and tape made to "protect" the fighter's hands, but turn them in to blunt force instruments. It's not boxing, it's bludgeoning. What's more important: protecting their hands or their brains? The human hand is not supposed to be tougher than the human skull. I'm reluctant to call for the ban of boxing as it would be most hypocritical on my part, but the way things are, with so many young fighters dying, and old fighters in the wretched condition they are, something drastic must be done. This is awful, awful: another poor, marvelously athletic and disciplined young man, leaving a young wife and a 5-month old daughter who will grow up never knowing her father.
Very sad. Condolences to his wife and family. It's a shame he won't be able to watch his baby daughter grow up. Was he wearing a helmet? Although sometimes I enjoy the sport of boxing, maybe it needs to have more protections implemented as being required (helmets, etc.) instead of being perhaps an option to the boxer instead? I still have vivid memories of the Korean boxer, Kim, dying in the ring after suffering severe head injuries while fighting Ray "Boom, Boom" Mancini. Sadly, of course, Mancini, felt terrible and went above and beyond in trying to personally assist the Korean boxer's family and Mancini stopped boxing for a long time because of the tragedy. It's just a shame but part of the risk involved. Ali is another prime example of the long term physical and mental trauma inflicted. God bless.