by David P. Greisman

The other prospects had the spotlight – the television cameras, the Olympic audience, the attention of promoters seeking to take blue-chip amateurs into professional prominence. As those in the class of 2008 earned their first paychecks, they did so with fanfare.Edwin Rodriguez could have been there, but he wasn't. He could have allowed that to hold him back, but he didn't. Instead, he is already ahead.

Rodriguez, a 23-year-old super middleweight fighting out of Worcester, Mass., signed last week with DiBella Entertainment. His name on the line puts his name in the air, a 9-0 prospect who toiled on undercards in the United States at a time when he had hoped to be in China, competing in the Olympics. But while those who joined the American national team are only now dipping their feet in the water, Rodriguez had gone in headfirst.

Nine fights in, the boxer, his manager and his new promoter expect greatness, setting their sights on things to come.

Rodriguez could have had the Olympic spotlight. He could have been there, but he wasn't. Where had he gone?

He was an amateur middleweight from the Dominican Republic who won the 2005 USA Boxing national championship and followed up with the 2006 Golden Gloves national championship. He had his sights set on representing the United States in 2008 in China.

But the day of the first qualifier, his twin children, a son and a daughter, were born. That was Sept. 29, 2006. They were due Jan. 21, 2007. Each weighed one pound, three ounces. Rodriguez pulled out of the first qualifier. For the second qualifier, he was juggling gym work and seeing his babies, watching his son come close to death on more than one occasion.

He didn't make the team.

Last year, he made his own opportunity.

Rodriguez turned pro at the beginning of the year. From January 2008 to January 2009, he stepped into rings in Idaho, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York and Rhode Island.
"It was a little tough," Rodriguez said in an interview last week. "I kept fighting from one promoter to another who had interest in signing me, but I wasn't signed with them. We got paid minimal. I had to prove myself as a professional. I did what I had to do."
That Mississippi appearance came this past January, on the undercard of a title fight between welterweights Andre Berto and Luis Collazo. The show's promoter was Lou DiBella.

"He's a grade-A prospect," DiBella said in an interview last week. "I really believe Edwin's as good as anybody who is a bonus baby out of the Olympics. Edwin, if not for the family stuff he had to deal with, would've been an Olympian. I had him on my radar screen a few years back as one of the best prospects in the country, and then he disappeared because of the babies.

"He's a very high character kid. And I think he's proven that already in his personal life. There are not a lot that put their career on hold and give up their Olympic dream because they have two premature babies and a fiancée. He can also fight his ass off. And, frankly, if you look at his nine wins to date, he has not been thrown in there particularly easy. He's beaten some guys who are good trial horses."

The deal works out for both parties. DiBella is a New Yorker seeking to expand into New England. He'll start out with a March 19 homecoming show in Worcester featuring Rodriguez. As for Rodriguez, he gets a big-name promoter who has guided the careers of some big-name talent.

Jermain Taylor became undisputed middleweight champion. Paulie Malignaggi captured a junior-welterweight title. Andre Berto has a world title belt at 147.

DiBella will get Rodriguez on television, get him the exposure he needs and deserves, said Larry Army, Rodriguez's manager.

"Lou gives us an extra level of credibility," Army said. "About 20 percent of his stable is either a current or former world champion. To me, that's a pretty telling sign in terms of how he manages his boxers and how he does his matchmaking."

Rodriguez's contract with DiBella is for three years, and DiBella said there are options for the relationship to last longer. Rodriguez says he's happy to have this promoter in his corner.

"I feel he could take me where I need to go, which is world champion," Rodriguez said.

"He just knows the right people. You need to have the talent, obviously, and I have that. Now I need somebody who has the connections. That's what I was missing."
DiBella said he sees Rodriguez fighting on Showtime's "ShoBox: The New Generation" by the end of the year.

"I'm looking potentially for him to fight under Jermain Taylor in April," DiBella said. "I want to keep him very busy. I think he's about 18 months away from the top of the division. He's been fighting at '68, but theoretically he can get down to '60. That's a decision we can make over the course of the next year. Both divisions are available."
Rodriguez said he wants the middleweight championship first, the super-middleweight championship second.

"I have a big mission ahead of me," Rodriguez said. "I know it's a long road. I know I have a lot of things to improve on. Since I turned professional, I've been working on sitting on my punches. I've come a long way. I feel much stronger. I've been doing strength and conditioning, and it's working.

"I'm always trying to make myself a better fighter. If I'm going to accomplish my goals, I have to keep working hard. I'm a good fighter, but I want to be great."

David P. Greisman’s weekly column, "Fighting Words," appears every Monday on BoxingScene.com. He may be reached for questions and comments at fightingwords1@gmail.com