Edwin Rodriguez Training with Shields, Returns Aug. 20

By Ryan Maquiñana

Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez has fully recovered from a shoulder injury and will return to the ring on Aug. 20 at Mechanics Hall in his hometown of Worcester, Mass., according to Rodriguez’s manager, Larry Army.

“Health-wise, he’s been 100 percent for four months,” Army said.  “He took a couple months on the shelf, but now he’s ready to go for August 20.”

Normally a super middleweight, the explosive Rodriguez (18-0, 13 KOs) will take on Chris Traietti (10-2, 6 KOs) at a higher weight than usual, most likely at 174 pounds.

“It has nothing to do with us making the weight,” Army said.  “[Traietti]’s basically a light heavyweight and we’re OK with that, because he’s durable, and we want to get rounds.”

The 26-year-old Rodriguez last fought in January on ESPN2, when he dislocated his left shoulder in the early rounds against Aaron Pryor Jr., forcing him to gut out a ten-round unanimous decision and snap his knockout streak at five.

“I did not want to bring him back earlier because anytime you hurt your rotator cuff as a fighter, that’s a serious injury,” Rodriguez’s promoter, Lou DiBella, added. “He’s at the top of the very elite of prospects that are out there.

“He’s sparred with some of the best in the world like Carl Froch, who made it a point to say he was a future champion.  Jean Pascal sparred him and thinks the world of him as a future talent.  So did Danny Geale, who’s now a world champion.  He’s an exciting fighter and a compelling person with a great back story.  The sky’s the limit.”

Traietti, of nearby Quincy, Mass., is currently on a two-bout winning streak.  The 25-year-old once lost a split decision to Joe McCreedy in 2008.

Currently ranked IBF No. 8/WBA No. 11/WBC No. 13/WBO No. 13, Rodriguez has also made a change in his team, replacing trainer Peter Manfredo Sr. with Houston’s Ronnie Shields.

“Edwin’s been in Houston since May,” Army said.  “There are some fundamental flaws with Edwin that we just weren’t able to fix.  His punches were a little looping, a little wide.  He continuously pulls back straight up.  Nothing against Peter Manfredo [Sr.], who we love, it’s just that we knew [Edwin]’s had these issues since day one, and for whatever reason, it just wouldn’t work out.

“We’ve gone back to the basics, and that’s something where Ronnie has been spectacular with him.  He and Ronnie have connected really well, and Edwin’s really responded to him.”

Ryan Maquiñana is the boxing correspondent at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , contact him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rmaq28 or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.