Misael Rodriguez: Olympian Bronze Medalist In Search Of Gold In Pros
By: Francisco Martinez
RingStar Sports, the Richard Schaefer jumpstart brand filled with 2016 Olympians including Mexican Bronze Medalist Misael Rodriguez who made is anticipated professional debut this past Sunday, yes, Sunday. In a stacked card with debuts of stable mates Carlos Balderas, Money Powell and Eimantas Stanionis at the Novo in downtown L.A. all successful debuts as all were pinned with strong competition for their debuts.
BoxingInsider caught up with Misael Rodriguez and asked him about his professional debut which was under the scrutiny of 4 time world champion, manager Abner Mares and trainer Robert Garcia, 2012 Boxing Writers Association of American trainer of the year. Early into the fight Misael found himself feeling the pro punches as his opponent landed clean but Misael showed the ability to take them comfortably and return fire to gain the upper hand after the second round managing to work soundly and take home a unanimous decision for his pro debut in front of his supporters.
“It was good, I felt good, I felt strong. My rival was a little tough but we kept working and in the end we won the fight unanimously” goes on to admit that the punches as professional are a tad bit harder “Yeah it reflects on my nose as it’s the first time I’ve bleed do to the punches being a little harder but we took them and had a real good close toward the end” Misael says of his pro debut.
Misael Rodriguez calls his partnership with Robert Garcia a “dream” as an amateur he always liked Robert’s style and admired the way his fighters would go about their business in the ring so paring up with him was a no brained and rather easy being that his manager, Abner Mares is now training in Riverside, California where the famed and private Robert Garcia Boxing Academy resides after a long term run and originating in Oxnard Robert decided to move things across town.
“It feels good to train with Robert. Even before being an Olympian I liked the style in which he trained and I thought it would be great with mine and now that dream is a reality working with him” Eduardo Garcia, father of Robert who guided him to a world title along with Fernando Vargas likes what he sees in Misael “A lot is expected of him one reason is for what he showed in the Olympics that he’s capable of doing” Eduardo Garcia also expressed how he was impressed with his ability to learn the professional things in technique at a fast rate.
Robert Garcia feels that Misael has the qualities to be a world champion with a little bit of hard work. Misael not being the fastest or strongest fighter in the Olympics but manager Abner Mares says that’s part of the reason he caught his attention do to his hard work ethic. Something important in a young fighter and something necessary in the pros as there is no shortcuts. As for Abner and Robert’s thoughts on Misael’s pro debut he said they told him “It was a good fight. Good performance. These fights make for experience and I also see it like that. It wasn’t an easy rival but we came out with the victory”
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