New York City police officer and celebrated amateur boxer Nisa Rodriguez (1-0, 0 KOs) is excited to be fighting on National Puerto Rican Day weekend this Saturday at home in New York’s Madison Square Garden Theater.
Rodriguez, 33, will face Jordanne Garcia (4-3, 3 KOs), of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a four-round bout on a card headlined by Xander Zayas vs. Patrick Teixera and streamed on ESPN2.
An eight-time “New York Daily News” Golden Gloves champion, as well as a six-time Metro Championships winner and two-time Empire State and Caribbean and Central Americano gold medalist, Rodriguez is equally thrilled to be fighting in her “house.”
“For me, Puerto Rican Day [in New York City] goes back to Miguel Cotto, who was my guy,” Rodriguez said. “First, he was a brawler, then a boxer, and he had Puerto Rican pride.”
Cotto made his debut at Madison Square Garden in a junior welterweight defense against Muhammadqodir Abdullaev on June 11, 2005 – on Puerto Rican Day – and made a total of 10 fights at the venue, including five on the holiday celebrating his home country.
Rodriguez also noted the significance of Felix “Tito” Trinidad laying the groundwork for the tradition of Puerto Rico’s best fighters representing the island in a New York fight on Puerto Rican Day weekend.
“Even Tito, I was young – maybe 15 or 16 – and I didn’t start boxing in the Golden Gloves until I was 17,” Rodriguez said. “Then it was my era. I grew up with so many Puerto Rican fighters. I knew Juan LaPorte, but I really didn’t know him until I was older. And I remember Amanda Serrano fighting on Puerto Rican Day.
In March, Rodriguez earned a unanimous decision over Jozette Cotton at Madison Square Garden Theater in her professional debut. In the meantime, she is juggling her careers as a police officer and professional boxer. Manager Keith Sullivan has struggled to set up opponents for Rodriguez, who may have just one professional fight under her belt but is a remarkably accomplished amateur.
“Keith Sullivan had a hard time finding me an opponent for my first fight,” Rodriguez said. “I heard he went through 13 girls for my first fight. They wanted a purse for a four-round bout that you’d get for an eight-rounder. Even when they agreed, some still wouldn’t sign the contract. I was surprised Keith got me this opponent [so far ahead of the fight].”
Said Sullivan: “I was working on matching Nisa for this fight about 10 minutes after she won her pro debut. I started texting coaches from the venue to line up a formidable opponent.
“Nisa is getting in with a more experienced and higher-ranked boxer. However, given her extensive and outstanding amateur career, we don’t plan on taking the slow train to a world title. I am thankful to Top Rank for putting us on what is going to be a great night of boxing in New York City.”
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