Rodriguez vs. Quijano Kicks Off Telemundo Summer Season
By Jake Donovan
Ricardo Rodriguez headlined the 2016 season premiere of Boxeo Telemundo, kicking off the spring season with a win over Miguel Cartagena. The scrappy super flyweight will now top the summer season launch, colliding with fellow series favorite David Quijano on June 24 at A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, Florida.
Given the history of fights showcased in this division, the winner could eventually garner consideration for a shot at a major title.
Quijano (16-5-1, 9KOs) has already played that stage, suffering a 12-round loss to then-super flyweight king Omar Narvaez in Dec. ’12. The setback was the first of a three-fight skid, which he put to an end with a Telemundo-televised 10-round win over Daniel Lozano at this very venue last October.
The win put the Caguas, Puerto Rico-based boxer into contention according the World Boxing Organization (WBO), having obtained a regional title with the win.
Rodriguez (13-3, 4KOs) has enjoyed far greater success in recent years, having won 11 of his last 13 starts. The lone two losses along that stretch have come versus David Carmona, who has since given a credible showing in a points loss to reigning super flyweight champ Naoya Inoue.
The latter loss to Carmona came last October, having since decisioned Cartagena this past February in Palm Bay, Florida.
“Terrific matchups like this have always been the heart of Boxeo Telemundo Ford,” Felix ‘Tutico’ Zabala, Jr., head of All-Star Boxing told BoxingScene.com. “We do these shows to bring the most entertaining fights possible to the passionate fans in Central Florida and Mexico City (the primary locations for the series), and to the hundreds of thousands of viewers who tune in and have helped make us the highest-rated (Hispanic language) boxing series.”
Hot welterweight prospect Sammy Valentin (6-0, 5KOs) – who signed with All-Star Boxing last fall – will also appear on the show against an opponent to be determined. The 21-year old boxer is coming off of a Telemundo-televised knockout win over veteran Cosme Rivera this past March
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Follow his shiny new Twitter account: @JakeNDaBox_v2
Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home.
