- Teon Kennedy vs. Francisco Rodriguez
What should have been a joyous occasion for Teon Kennedy turned into a tragedy when Francisco Rodriguez passed away less than 48 hours after Kennedy had K0d him in the 10th round to win the vacant United States Boxing Association (USBA) super bantamweight title.
Kennedy, 23, of North Philadelphia, and Rodriguez, 25, of Chicago, IL, waged one of the most memorable battles in the 48-year history of boxing at the Blue Horizon. After the fight was stopped, with Rodriguez still on his feet, the Chicago fighter was taken from the ring on a stretcher and rushed to Hahnemann University Hospital. He underwent a CAT scan late Friday night, then surgery and was listed in critical condition and on life support. He died Sunday evening.
Ironically, the fight almost ended in the first round when a left hook from Kennedy staggered Rodriguez, who was wobbled again seconds later from an overhand right. Ref Benjy Esteves, anticipating that Rodriguez would fall into the ropes, stepped in and administered an 8-count. The bell sounded about 20 seconds later before Kennedy could do further damage.
Rodriguez seemed revived as he came out for the second round and gave as good as he got for the next seven rounds. Kennedy never before had been hit with as many punches as he did this night. The two warriors battled furiously on the inside and Rodriguiez had an answer for everything Kennedy tried. Rodriguez, who had beaten Kennedy when they were amateurs, switched between orthodox and southpaw to gain an advantge.
There was little to choose between them after eight rounds, other than the extra point Kennedy got in the first round. After eight rounds, Kennedy led by one point on two scorecards (76-75) and by three points (77-74) on the third. All three judges gave Rodriguez the eighth round. In the ninth, Kennedy began using his jab to get some separation and he staggered Rodriguez late in the round but, again, could not finish the job.
Dr. Johnathon Levyn visited Rodriguez' corner after the ninth, but the fight continued. Going on fumes, Rodriguez attacked early in round 10, but twice fell to his knees on the inside. Both time referee Esteves ruled Kennedy had pushed him. In reality, Rodriguez was exhausted. A left-right combination to the jaw from Kennedy forced Esteves to stop the fight at 1.53 of the round. Kennedy led 86-84, 86-83, 87-83 on the scorecards.
Rodriguez sat down on his stool after the stoppage and, when he did not respond to questions, the stretcher was brought into the ring.
Rodriguez had brought a 14-2 record (8 K0s) to Philadelphia and was riding a three-fight winning streak. This was his first fight outside Illinois and was well-rested from an ll-month layoff. He weighed 118.5 pounds.
The bittersweet victory leaves Kennedy at 14-0-1, 6 K0s, and the promise of a world rating from the International Boxing Federation (IBF) at 122 pounds. He weighed 121 pounds for this contest.
(Donations to the family of Francisco Rodriguez can be sent to: The Francisco Rodriguez Fund, c/o National Republic Bank of Chicago, 1201 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607.)
In other bouts on the card: Jason Barnett, 223, St. Petersburg, FL, ended the career of popular Big John Poore, 217, of Upper Darby, PA, with one left hook 38 seconds into the third round of the scheduled six-round heavyweight match. Barnett is 11-10, 4 K0s, while Poore drops to 21-4, 18 K0s; super middleweight Dennis "The Assassin" Hasson, 167.5, of the Kensington section of Philadelphia, was awarded a fifth-round K0 over Eric Pinarreta, 167, of New Bedford, MA,when Pinarreta's corner threw in the towel at 1.51 of round five. Hasson is 9-0, 3 K0s, Pinarreta 2-3, 1 K0; Jamaal "Da Truth" Davis, 154.5, of West Philadelphia, earned a unanimous six-round decision (58-55, 59-54, 59-54) over Josh Onyango, of Trenton, NJ, junior middleweights; Miguel Corsino, 146.5, Camden, NJ, exchanged first-round knockdowns with Keane Davis, 148, North Philadelphia, then dropped Davis three times in the second round for a knockout win at 2.33 of the round, welterweights; Ardrick Butler, 147.5, West Philadelphia, K0d Epi Cosme Rodriguez, 147.5, Lancaster, PA, at 2.25 of the first round, welterweights; Jason Sosa, 129.5, Camden, NJ, K0d Jonathon Ocasio, 128, North Philadelphia, at 1.13 of round three, junior lightweights.