Orlando Cruz Out, New Telemundo Headliner For 10/24

By Jake Donovan

A new main event is on tap for the October 24 edition of Boxeo Telemundo, which will wrap up the 2014 season. Unbeaten super flyweight Edwin Rodriguez will face Ricardo Rodriguez (9-2, 3KOs) in a 10-round regional title fight, which tops the bill at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Florida.

The bout replaces the originally scheduled headliner between fallen featherweight contender Orlando Cruz and Mexico’s Ruben Tamayo. No reason was given for the switch in bouts, or why Cruz is no longer on the show.

Daniel Rosario (8-1, 7KOs) still remains on the show, facing Jose Alberto Leal in an eight-round welterweight bout, which serves as the evening’s co-feature.

“We expect fireworks in our season finale,” predicts promoter Felix ‘Tuto’ Zabala, Jr. “[T]wo classic battles between Puerto Rico and Mexico. This is our 13th anniversary at the Kissimmee Civic Center and we will bring the fans a great night of action.”

Telemundo has enjoyed record ratings in 2014, topped by its July 18 edition when Jonathan Vidal knocked out Juan Kantun in eight rounds. The show registered as the highest rated boxing telecast in Telemundo’s 25-year history with the sport, and also helped propel the network to the highest summer series ratings average for any boxing program, beating out ESPN2 and Fox Sports 1 in addition to all of the Spanish-speaking stations in the United States.

Part of the ratings push came from interest in the super flyweight tournament that included Vidal and eventual winner Daniel Lozano, who stopped the Puerto Rican in four rounds earlier this month in Tampa.

The switch in headliners for the October 24 show gives Telemundo its sixth super flyweight main event in its past eight episodes.

“Every super flyweight bout we’ve aired this year has been action-packed. This fight will add to that growing list,” said Zabala.

Edwin Rodriguez (7-0, 4KOs) makes his series debut, also fighting for the first time outside of Puerto Rico. His last bout came in June, scoring a six-round shutout over journeyman Luis Ortiz.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as the Records Keeper for the Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and a member of Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox