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. Photograph credit score: Naoki Fukuda
Junior bantamweight contender Jonathan Rodriguez had been attributable to face Kosei Tanaka for the WBO 115-pound title on Saturday. Nonetheless, on the weigh within the day earlier than he tipped the scales at 121.25, that means he was 6.25-pounds chubby and the battle was appropriately quickly scratched.
It was exhausting to not really feel sorry for Tanaka who had completed 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 together with his story between his legs after a very troublesome few days.
“This case was very embarrassing,” Damian instructed The Ring. “Sadly since Wednesday Jonathan began cramping, had bother 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 duty. No finger-pointing to the fighter or coach. I really like our sport and one factor I can say is: There was by no means a nasty intention on coming heavy.
“Once I spoke with Mr Honda about it, I spoke the reality. He’s an honorable man with quite a lot of expertise. I wish to imagine he is aware of we by no means had a nasty intention to return chubby or to make use of it as benefit. We stored making an attempt till final minute to lose each little [bit of] weight we may. We completely did our greatest as a crew to make the battle occur. Till medically it was not doable.”
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, the whole lot based on Damian, issues had been going easily and simply how they’d deliberate.
“All the pieces was on observe,” he mentioned. “I requested them their reply was each factor goes nice.”
As soon as it grew to become apparent to Damian that issues had been veering astray he tried to assist.
“I made some calls to the USA looking for recommendation,” he mentioned. “I used to be involved and I knew then we had been in large bother. All of us had the hope that by some means by controlling the cramps we will maintain working safely on shedding the additional weight.
Jonathan Rodriguez (left) and his promoter Paco Damian understanding in Japan because the fighter tried to shed weight earlier than dealing with Kosei Tanaka – Photograph courtesy of Paco Damian
“Sadly each time the cramps will come again all we labored and the load 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 load he was. We couldn’t catchup.
“On Wednesday, when this occurred, I didn’t level the finger at anyone, as a substitute I attempt to maintain everybody calm and cope with the scenario. I took over, Each time we labored to shed some pounds, I pushed Jonathan to the restrict responsibly. Nonetheless, on the time I had an enormous duty and that was his well being first.”
The promoter is apologetic about what occurred and greater than keen to take his drugs.
“This hasn’t sat effectively with me,” he mentioned. “I’ve by no means accepted excuses, excuses are for folks that aren’t keen to imagine duty.
“Different athletes from totally different nations made weight simply fantastic. The injury we have now induced is unrepairable. Because the lead particular person of my crew I assume all of the duty 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 constructive 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 Could. Every case is totally different and judged by itself advantage.
“I’m glad they’re powerful, as they need to be,” he mentioned, falling at their mercy. “I don’t know as of proper now what their verdict shall 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 scenario and he personally provided me his board of docs and consultants to look into what occurred to seek out out what was the reason for this, and in addition 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 choice,” defined Damian. “Then we are going to proceed accordingly.”
Questions and/or feedback will be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
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