Death of 'Nino Azteka' stuns Chicago boxing community

Death of 'Nino Azteka' stuns Chicago boxing community November 23, 2009 7:04 PM | 12 Comments http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/_boxer640.jpg Francisco Rodriguez is cared for after being knocked down during a match with Teon Kennedy. (Photo by Mike Baluk) By Oscar Avila and José Luis Sánchez Pando (HOY) The Chicago boxing community on Monday was mourning the death of Francisco "Paco" Rodriguez, who died Sunday night from injuries during a title bout in Philadelphia over the weekend. In the days before the fight, a giddy Rodriguez and his family had lived a dream by posing by the "Rocky" statue at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. "More than money, more than anything, he wanted to be a world champion," said George Hernandez, who had worked with Rodriguez since childhood as a boxing trainer with the Chicago Park District. "I am proud that, in his last fight, he performed like the warrior that he is." From a family of accomplished boxers, Rodriguez had already won local acclaim, earning a national Golden Gloves championship at age 17, five local titles and a spot in the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials. Rodriguez, 25, had a devoted following in Chicago's Mexican community. He billed himself as "El Nino Azteca," or Kid Aztec, and his entourage often came into the ring in sombreros to the drumbeats of banda music. Friday night, Rodriguez had lost to Teon Kennedy in a brutal battle for the USBA super bantamweight title. The bout was Rodriguez's first for a championship and his first outside Chicago. Rodriguez was nearly knocked out in the first round but came back to send Kennedy reeling. A late barrage by Kennedy in the 10th roundcaused the referee to stop the fight. "He staggered in the first round and they started (a standing 8-count). But when he reached the corner, he answered that everything was alright and during all the rounds he answered well," Evaristo Rodriguez Jr., Rodriguez's brother and trainer, told Hoy. "The boy never touched the mat, he was always conscious," said George Hernandez, who also was in Rodriguez's corner. "But at the end I asked him if he was OK and he said that he felt sleepy. I asked if he felt sick and when he said 'Yes, a little', that's when I started to scream for the doctor." Hernandez, who assisted Rodriguez's father and brother in the corner, said the fighter initially didn't seem badly hurt. But moments later, the boxer complained that he was "sleepy" and his body went limp. He was in a coma and not showing brain activity until Sunday, when the doctors decided to remove him from life support. Rodriguez is survived by his wife Sonia and his 5-month-old daughter Ginette. His body will remain in Philadelphia until his organs are donated. At the park district's gym in Garfield Park, young fighters recalled Rodriguez as a soft-spoken and patient mentor. Shaquan Johnson, 10, said the fighter had taught him moves, including how to spin away when being pinned down on the ropes. "And he let me take a picture with him and his belt," Shaquan said. A family spokeswoman said Rodriguez was survived by his wife and a 5-month-old daughter. His father, Evaristo, was a professional boxer in Mexico and the U.S. while his brother, Evaristo Jr., was also a national Golden Gloves champion. Funeral arrangements were pending. "It's a terrible tragedy that took place," said Ted Gimza, a board member with the Chicago Golden Gloves who knew Rodriguez since his teenage years. "As a person, on a scale of 10, he was a 9.999. He was one of the better examples for boxers everywhere." Meanwhile, some in the boxing world questioned whether injuries like those Rodriguez suffered are inevitable. "We boxers know that something like this can happen, but we never think that it could happen to us," said David Diaz, a former USBA welterweight Champion. "Paco's future was a brilliant one. It is something that hurts because I have known him since he was a baby and I was raised in boxing with his older brothers." "Those of us in boxing try to take care of ourselves, but we really take a chance every time we get up on the ring. Paco was very professional he took care of himself, and his father and brothers, who were also boxers, took care of him and advised him very well. We didn't expect this, and one doesn't know when your day is going to come. Unfortunately, this is a brutal sport but we were raised in this and we know the sacrifices that we need to make to try to make something good for our family," he added. "I feel very sad," said Freddy Cuevas, a boxer who had known Rodriguez for about 20 years."He was a brat running around the gym. ... I remember him as a child, and that's why they called him 'Niño Azteka,' because he had the face of a child, but he was brave as a warrior." "He had a future ahead of him and he had a lot of potential of being a world champion. I didn't watch Friday's fight but I can imagine that he died because he received too many blows or maybe he battled with his weight," Cuevas said. Miguel "Macho" Hernandez, a Chicago boxer, was affected by the news and couldn't reconcile it. "I still can't believe it. He was a really good person that loved to box and had a good future. My son also wants to box and these things make me think a lot, but this is a sport and you never know what's going to happen. It hurts a lot, especially to the family, because Christmas is coming," Hernandez said. An account has just been established in Rodriguez's name to assist the family with their medical and funeral expenses. More information is available at http://franciscorodriguezfund.wordpress.com/.