Mexico’s Jonathan Rodriguez (25-2-1, 17 knockouts) blew his shot on the WBO 115-pound title after he missed weight by greater than six kilos. His bout versus defending titlist Kosei Tanaka (20-1, 11 KOs), scheduled for July 20, was canceled. Picture credit score: Naoki Fukuda
Junior bantamweight contender Jonathan Rodriguez had been because of face Kosei Tanaka for the WBO 115-pound title on Saturday. Nevertheless, on the weigh within the day earlier than he tipped the scales at 121.25, that means he was 6.25-pounds obese and the battle was accurately quickly scratched.
It was exhausting to not really feel sorry for Tanaka who had finished his half and made weight, whereas Rodriguez has turn into one thing of a pariah, particularly in Japanese circles.
His promoter, Paco Damian, who’s a disciple of the late nice Corridor of Fame promoter Don Chargin, had gone to Japan with excessive hopes solely to depart along with his story between his legs after a very tough few days.
“This case was very embarrassing,” Damian instructed The Ring. “Sadly since Wednesday Jonathan began cramping, had hassle respiratory, and felt stress in his chest. I had no selection however to hydrate him and attempt to keep forward of his signs. From that time we couldn’t catch up.
“No excuses on my finish. I’m the promoter and I assume all of the accountability. No finger-pointing to the fighter or coach. I like our sport and one factor I can say is: There was by no means a foul intention on coming heavy.
“After I spoke with Mr Honda about it, I spoke the reality. He’s an honorable man with quite a lot of expertise. I want to consider he is aware of we by no means had a foul intention to come back obese or to make use of it as benefit. We saved making an attempt till final minute to lose each little [bit of] weight we may. We completely did our greatest as a staff to make the battle occur. Till medically it was not attainable.”
Rodriguez weight 121.6-pounds on the Wednesday of battle week however was unable to shift any further weight as a result of illnesses.
試合中止です
相手選手が2.9kgオーバー
再計量も断念して計量失格相手選手の体調や
試合不成立になった戦いを行う事自体、本来良くない事
色々な事を踏まえて
試合中止という判断です明日はグローブではなく
マイクを持って
リングで皆さんに顔を見せます
残念なお知らせ誠に申し訳ございません。 pic.twitter.com/Eq3ehi74dy— 田中恒成/KOsei Tanaka (@KOsei530) July 19, 2024
Previous to that, all the pieces in response to Damian, issues had been going easily and simply how they’d deliberate.
“Every thing was on observe,” he stated. “I requested them their reply was each factor goes nice.”
As soon as it turned apparent to Damian that issues had been veering off target he tried to assist.
“I made some calls to the USA trying to find recommendation,” he stated. “I used to be involved and I knew then we had been in large hassle. All of us had the hope that someway by controlling the cramps we are able to preserve working safely on shedding the additional weight.
Jonathan Rodriguez (left) and his promoter Paco Damian figuring out in Japan because the fighter tried to shed weight earlier than dealing with Kosei Tanaka – Picture courtesy of Paco Damian
“Sadly each time the cramps will come again all we labored and the burden he misplaced was in useless as a result of I needed to give him some liquids to maintain him protected, that introduced him proper again to the burden he was. We couldn’t catchup.
“On Wednesday, when this occurred, I didn’t level the finger at anyone, as an alternative I attempt to preserve everybody calm and cope with the state of affairs. I took over, Each time we labored to drop some weight, I pushed Jonathan to the restrict responsibly. Nevertheless, on the time I had a giant accountability and that was his well being first.”
The promoter is apologetic about what occurred and greater than prepared to take his medication.
“This hasn’t sat effectively with me,” he stated. “I’ve by no means accepted excuses, excuses are for folks that aren’t prepared to imagine accountability.
“Different athletes from completely different international locations made weight simply tremendous. The injury we’ve induced is unrepairable. Because the lead individual of my staff I assume all of the accountability to be laid upon me.”
It’s after all very early within the course of, however the JBC are notoriously powerful on offenders. That they had a no-nonsense method to Luis Nery who examined optimistic for zilpaterol and flagrantly missed weight in opposition to Shinsuke Yamanaka, and was given a lifetime ban. That ban was subsequently rescinded to permit Nery to face Ring junior featherweight titleholder Naoya Inoue in Might. Every case is completely different and judged by itself advantage.
“I’m glad they’re powerful, as they need to be,” he stated, falling at their mercy. “I don’t know as of proper now what their verdict might be.”
Rodriguez’s short-term future is dependent upon the JBC ruling, although he acquired some encouraging help from one other sanctioning physique.
“I had a dialog with [WBC President] Mr. Mauricio Sulaiman whereas in Japan in regard to this unlucky state of affairs and he personally supplied me his board of medical doctors and consultants to look into what occurred to search out out what was the reason for this, and likewise to make use of this to be as consciousness to different athletes. And in what weight class Jonathan will battle within the close to future.”
“I’ve to attend for the JBC resolution,” defined Damian. “Then we’ll proceed accordingly.”
Questions and/or feedback may be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
