Archived Q&A with Edwin Rodriguez

• Q

  

  hboboxing

  Thank you Edwin Rodriguez for joining us for today’s Q&A. What or who inspired you to become a boxer?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  Sugar Ray Robinson.

• Q

  

  Sara Stirling

  Does it hurt when you get hit?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  It does hurt but there's so much adrenaline going into the fight that the pain is the least of our worries.

• Q

  

  Emily Giannusa

  Who was your toughest opponent?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  My toughest opponent today was Aaron Pry Jr because I had to fight through adversity due to a shoulder injury. I had to go through 7 rounds and won the fight even though I had an injury.

• Q

  

  Ben Verlinde

  Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I'll be 37 and will probably be working with young kids in boxing. I'd like to give back to my community, own a boxing gym and do something related to boxing.

• Q

  

  davidyly

  Are you going for the KO or do you want to win by points?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  We're always going for the KO! I have a tough opponent in front of me who has a lot of will but on Saturday night I'm definitely going for it with my tough opponent. Every punch will be a set up for the KO. That's my intention on Saturday night.

• Q

  

  jimmybarry1

  Are there any sports movies that you find inspirational?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  Yes Raging Bull, Gladiator, and Troy!

• Q

  

  Derek Tutschulte

  Do you have any pre-fight rituals?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I just try to relax and stay as calm as I can. Just listen to music that's going to get me hyped and motivated. I just chill, stay clam and try to think about how I'm going to set up my punches, what I'm going to do to my opponent, play out the scenario of the fight in my head. Stuff that will get me in gear for the fight.

• Q

  

  SteveMarzolf

  How tough is it going to be to maintain the focus you've developed with Ronnie Shields when Escalera comes to brawl?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I had a great training camp. I had great sparring partners, 2-3 guys in one sparring section. The things they put me through I don't think compares to what Escalera can bring to the table. Working with Cornelius White who's 178 pounds is very strong and we put in great work. With that preparation I think I can handle Escalera's strength.

• Q

  

  Kim Warner

  Describe your fighting style in 3 words.

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  Determined. Explosive. Calm.

• Q

  

  Adam1Lopez

  Do you like being out in houston training with Ronnie?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  It's a great community to train in. We have a new gym now called Plex Boxing and it's a gym where athletes do their strength training and conditioning. It's a great facility because a lot of boxers don't keep up with their rehab and the facility helps us focus on the little things we need to work on.

• Q

  

  AgentReem313

  Who hit you the hardest in your professional career?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  That would have to be Kevin Engle, he hit me with a left hook and he wobbled me! I had to keep it together, professional and just stick through it.

• Q

  

  Emily Giannusa

  What is Escalera’s biggest weakness that you plan on taking advantage of?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  His strength is also his weakness. He's a very strong kid with a lot of will but I think he rushes it. He charges at you like a bull and that's a mistake you can make at this level of the game.

• Q

  

  ValentinaMonte

  do you have any funny stories from before or after fights?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I have a lot of them but I can't think of one right now.

• Q

  

  jimmarsh

  What is your proudest achievement in boxing to date?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I think it was competing in the USA National Boxing Team and represent USA against other countries. That's something I'm really proud of in my boxing career. That and being ranked Top 10 in Ring Magazine.

• Q

  

  ValentinaMonte

  what was your very first fight like?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I was 17 years and it was in the Golden Gloves local. I won my first fight but I lost my second fight to this kid I ended up fighting a year later. It wasn't winning my first fight but loosing my second fight that made me competive to train and beat that kid a year after. All that training and beating him was a great feeling.

• Q

  

  ValentinaMonte

  What was one fight that you fought that was particularly memorable for you?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  My first HBO fight on the big stage in Madison Square Garden. It made me feel like a professional even though I had 20 pro fights.

• Q

  

  Toni Lear

  Do you have a specific game-plan for Escalera?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  Yeah Ronnie Shields is one of the best boxing trainers. He put up a really good game-plan. Escalera is a fighter that needs room to punch, he'll try to rush you, basically like a bully. If he wants to go it in the middle of the ring that's what we'll do. We're looking to back him up and do some damage.

• Q

  

  Kim Warner

  What other sports do you like besides boxing?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I was born and raised in the DR and I came to the USA in 1988. I love baseball! I could only play when it was warm though so I got into boxing because I could fight year round. My brother introduced me to the Boys and Girls Club where I started boxing.

• Q

  

  AaronOrlen

  what's your training regimen like?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I get up around 7 am and go for a good run and then go to the Plex gym in Houston and spend the day there with my coaches, Ronnie Shields and Danny Arnold. We have 1 or 2 strength and conditioning workouts and 1 boxing workout each day of training camp. The strength and conditioning workouts can be commando runs one day and weights the next. I spar one day a week."

• Q

  

  kepler_leo

  What kind of food do you eat when you're training?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  There is a nutritionist at the Plex and a full kitchen. I have meals there like tuna fillets or whole grain pasta and lots of chicken.

• Q

  

  Kim Warner

  If you could fight anyone in history, who would it be?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  Sugar Ray Robinson. He's my boxing hero. He was one of the greatest all time and fought close to my weight class. He had speed, power....he did it all. It would be great to measure myself against the best like him."

• Q

  

  kepler_leo

  Do you listen to music to get amped for a fight?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  Yes. In the dressing room before a fight I listen to my I-pod or my manager's (Larry Army) Ipod. It helps get me into a zone. It could be Dominican music, rap or rock and roll. I have a varied interest in music.

• Q

  

  hboboxing

  That's all the time we have for today's Q&A. A huge thank you to Edwin Rodriguez for joining us. Anything else you'd like to say, Edwin?

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  Edwin Rodriguez says:

  I would like to say thank you for your support. I'm representing Massachusetts, USA and the DR. Thank you HBO, Ronnie Shields and Lou DiBella for giving me this fight.