The main event featured former welterweight world title challenger Delvin Rodriguez (25-5-3, 14 KOs) and Ring Magazine’sNo.7-ranked junior middleweight Pawel “Raging Bull” Wolak (29-1-1, 19 KOs) in a 10-round majority draw. The much anticipated fight originated from New York City’s Roseland Ballroom, where Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas described the action.
“These two fighters exemplified what professional boxing athletes should be: conditioned, determined and passionate about their sport,” said Doug Loughrey, ESPN director of programming and acquisitions. “These boxers gave 100% of themselves by consistently over-coming adversity not only for those in attendance, but a worldwide audience onESPN’s Friday Night Fights. Their combined performance is exactly what makes this sport so great. We are already looking at schedules for this fall for a potential rematch on ESPN.”
Bout promoter Star Boxing described the fight: “Wolak came out pressuring Rodriguez from the opening bell, looking to swarm the former welterweight world title challenger, but the more he seemed to pressure, the more combinations Rodriguez landed. Wolak excited the crowd by bull-rushing Rodriguez to the ropes, but then Rodriguez would answer with hard combinations that snapped Wolak’s head back.
“Wolak’s face began to show severe swelling in the sixth, with his right eye becoming swollen and the 10th ended with Rodriguez and Wolak exchanging punches in the middle of the ring, ending a potential fight of the year.”
