Mexican here for the belt
WITH a master’s degree in linguistics, he could easily talk his way out of any fight.
Instead former University of Otago exchange student Andres Josue Delfin Rodriguez spent three days travelling from Mexico to New Zealand to fight Canterbury’s Bowyn Morgan for the vacant ProBox welterweight belt.
The 30yearold spent six months at the University of Otago completing his masters in linguistics two years ago and teaches English at home, in Mazatlan, Mexico.
But he is hungry to see how far his boxing career can go and used his connections in Dunedin to help set up the fight with Morgan.
He trained under the tutelage of Ryan Henry and Eldon Clifton while in Dunedin and is back this week to polish his preparation before meeting Morgan in the ring at Hornby Working Men’s Club on Friday.
‘‘I found this place [Fight and Fitness] on the internet two years ago and told the big guy [Henry] I was a professional and I wanted to fight again and get into shape,’’ Rodriguez said.
A fight was arranged with Australian Kris George but Rodriguez’s travel visa did not come through in time and he could not go to Australia for the fight.
‘‘Everything was set already but suddenly I’m here again and fighting Morgan,’’ he said.
‘‘I have seen a couple of videos of him boxing and fighting and he seems to be strong but I think we are prepared.’’
Both men are taking a scientific approach into the ring. Morgan has been working with Crusaders’ strength and conditioning coach Simon Thomas on cognitive training, which he hopes will help him make better decisions under pressure and when he is fatigued.
Rodriguez keeps his brain sharp through study and is considering augmenting his masters degree with a PhD.
But right now he is focused on his boxing career and the fight ahead. He has a professional record of 106 but Morgan’s record looks superior. He has had 16 fights for 15 wins and one loss — interestingly the loss was against George.
But Rodriguez feels he has been in the ring with tougher opponents.
It is a long way to come for a fight and he is not planning on returning without the belt.
‘‘What really motivates me is to fight strong guys like Morgan. It keeps me going to train harder and harder.
‘‘I’m ready.’’