Feliciano 8th Round TKO Upsets Rodriguez

(March 24, 2007) Mashantucket, CT. (Foxwoods Casino)—-

In an excellent showdown between a stand up boxer puncher and a banger, the fight went to the guy who stayed busy and keep the pressure on his opponent. Jesse “El Rayo” Feliciano scored an impressive 8th round TKO over Delvin Rodriguez to capture the USBA welterweight crown.

Feliciano dropped Rodriguez three times in the 8th and despite the fact that the USBA champ was able to beat the count the contest was called off at 2:42 of the 8th round.

–Bombs Away–

Rodriguez (20-2-1, 12 KO’s) controlled the early action with whistling straight right hands down the middle for the first four heats of the scheduled 12 round USBA welterweight title fight. However, Rodriguez (146) has developed the very bad habit of dropping his left hand and the underdog Feliciano (15-5-3, 9 KO’s) kept the pressure on and eventually began landing shots.

In the 5th, Rodriguez, Danbury, CT, connected with three hard left hooks upstairs but Feliciano (147) countered with two jolting right hands to the chin. Early in the 6th, Rodriguez scored with a crisp left hook followed by a sizzling right cross to the face. However, Feliciano, Las Vegas, Nevada continued to try and battle in close quarters and late in the round both fighters flurried and landed leather.

Both men repeatedly traded hard shots but Feliciano continued to cut the distance and turn the fight from a boxing match into a brawl. With 1:22 remaining the 8th, Feliciano landed three thundering overhand right hands that caught Rodriguez flush on the jaw. Rodriguez was driven back and he attempted to escape in a straight line but Feliciano tattooed the champion with a flurry of punches including another left hook that propelled the USBA champ into the corner and along the ropes.

Feliciano continued firing shots and he landed three more wicked punches including a scalding left hook that dropped the titleholder and Rodriguez hit the canvas on the left side of his body.

Rodriguez managed to make it to his feet at the count of five but he was still shaken when the action resumed. Feliciano unloaded a prolonged volley of hammering shots including four more punishing head snapping right hands to the skull that floored Rodriguez for the second time in the round. The USBA titleholder came to rest flat on his back underneath the ropes looking up at the ring lights.

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