We finish up the night of a thousand fights with what could be an absolute horror show on CBS Sports Net. In the main event, we get a six-rounder between US Olympian Nico Hernandez (1-0, 1 KOs) against another young prospect Jose Rodriguez (2-0, 2 KOs) at the Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.
The primary undercard should be Marc Pagcaliwangan (10-0-1, 8 KOs) fights professional jobber Angel Monrreal (10-8-1, 3 KOs). Unlike the other fight shows tonight, I’m with you all the way on this one, God help me. I guess it’s my punishment for missing the HBO and Golden Boy undercards.
As always, scroll down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from CBS Sports Net.
WICHITA, Kansas (June 16, 2017) – All fighters made weight today at Mort’s Cigar Bar in Wichita for tomorrow night’s “KO Night Boxing: Rapid Fire,” airing on CBS Sports Network live from Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.
“KO Night Boxing: Rapid Fire” is a presentation of KO Night Boxing LLC. TITLE Boxing is the official apparel and gloves partner for Knockout Night Boxing.
Jose Rodriguez faces Nico Hernandez on June 17
Unfazed Mexico-native Jose Rodriguez is determined to knockout 2016 Olympic bronze medalist Nico Hernandez on Saturday, June 17, in the “KO Night Boxing: Rapid Fire” headline event.
Wichita-native Hernandez (1-0, 1 KO) will be fighting at home against Rodriquez (2-0, 2 KOs), a flyweight living in Wisconsin,in the six-round main event that will air (10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT) on CBS Sports Network live from Hartman Arena in Park City, Kansas.
“KO Night Boxing: Rapid Fire” is a presentation of KO Night Boxing LLC.
Hernandez drew nearly 3,200 fans for his professional debut, March 25, in nearby Mulvane (KS), in which the 21-year-old future star stopped Patrick Gutierrez in the fourth round of the main event, which was also televised live on CBS Sports Network.
Rodriguez is chasing the American dream having moved 12 years ago to Wisconsin for a job opportunity and better life for his family. He had started boxing in Mexico but was unable to continue because he needed to work. A few years after he moved to Wisconsin, Rodriguez decided he wanted to box again, although he had a difficult time finding a trainer who wanted to work with a 24-year-old novice. Trainer Eddie Haynes gave Rodriguez an opportunity to join Team Certified, which includes former world title challenger Angel Manfredy, who also works Rodriguez’ corner.
After a brief yet undefeated amateur career, highlighted by Rodriguez’ gold-medal performance in the in the Milwaukee Golden Gloves Championships, Jose turned pro last July in Milwaukee against Nicholas Brand. Now, he has a pair of first-round knockouts, the last this past September against Richard Tallmadge, who was coached by Nate Jones, ironically, also an American Olympic bronze-medal winner in 1996.
Rodriguez, who drives 1 ½-hours to train at his gym, works the night shift in a factory. “I fight for my wife and three children,” the 29-year-old Rodriquez said. “This is a very important fight for me because, when I knock him out, it’ll open doors for me and my team. I train very hard every day because I want to make a living boxing, or at least enough to work less hours, so I can see my kids more than the hour a day I do now. I’ve already lost too much time
The fights are on CBS Sports Net at 1 a.m. EST. Watch them with me if you dare.
