Comments Thread For: Edwin Rodriguez Explains Move To Al Haymon, HBO Beef

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Super middleweight contender Edwin Rodriguez (24-0, 16KOs) recently signed with boxing power broker Al Haymon.

Rodriguez explained his move in a detailed interview with the Worcester Telegram. The boxer had a meeting with HBO a few weeks ago, where the network offered him a September fight with WBA champion Andre Ward.

Rodriguez told HBO that he wouldn't be ready in time for a September fight. He was willing to face Ward in November, an idea that HBO rejected. He told the paper that HBO also balked at the idea of putting him against an alternative opponent like Mikkel Kessler, Arthur Abraham or Lucian Bute.
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[-EX-]

Rodriguez is a decent fighter...I can't see him realistically challenging for a title though...certainly don't see him presenting a threat to Ward, Froch, Kessler...I wouldn't pick him against Bika either...but he comes to fight

[Hougigo]

Well, looks like it's confirmed

[The Gambler1981]

Good to see that he was perceptive enough to get why HBO wanted to deal with him in the first place.

Still that would have been a great opportunity for him, tough fight but one that could have opened a lot of doors had he even just hung with Ward.

[dc3383]

I wouldn't pick anybody to beat Ward; and your chances trully decrease if your not ready to fight on a certain date.

[ElPerroBigoton]

How about Rodriguez vs. Chavez Jr. in December?

[notch]

Pathetic

Says His "Time is now" and turns down the biggest fight he's gonna get !
Any great boxer is always in shape and ready to fight...Oh, I Forgot, that was the older generation that were ready to fight at the drop of a hat...And did, multiple times a year !

[CLubberLang]

I may be crazy but fighting Ward after he has come off of shoulder surgery may not be too bad of an idea. I'm not saying that Edwin can't beat him otherwise but any extra help couldn't be a bad thing I suppose. But if he is not ready then maybe he isn't ready. It's better to not just settle then go in and get beat up if your not in tip top shape. That could end his career as a future star before it starts.

[Weebler I]

Looks like HBO made him feel like an opponent. Ward still doesn't have an opponent so I don't see why it couldn't have waited until November.

[Sancho Puncho]

He acts like a prima donna.
First he turned down 500k and fight with Golovkin stating that he is not going to come down in weight as he intends to fight with super-middleweights. Now he turned down a shot at Ward.
Guess HBO got fed up with him and rightly so.