Edwin Rodriguez: “Andre Ward has the style to be able to neutralize Golovkin’s power and outbox him”

18 Submitted by on Wed, 22 October 2014, 23:37

I recently had a chance to speak with light heavyweight contender, Edwin Rodriguez during the 223rd edition of “On The Ropes” boxing radio to talk about his return to the ring. Edwin talked about coming back in a new weight class and what he learned from his loss to Andre Ward. Rodriguez also gave his thoughts on Gennady Golovkin’s dominant middleweight reign and what he thinks would happen in a GGG-Ward bout. Additionally Edwin shared his views on Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, and the upcoming Hopkins-Kovalev fight. Here is what Edwin Rodriguez had to say.

Jenna J: You fought this past weekend on the undercard of Golovkin vs. Rubio. Can you tell the fans about the opponent that you faced?

Edwin Rodriguez: I faced Azea Augustama, he was a former Olympian from Haiti. He was 17-1, 17-2 now. He was supposed to be a good opponent, a good fight back. It was a lot of fun.

Jenna J: You were showing off a little bit, the fight went all ten rounds. How did you feel getting back in the ring after the time off?

Edwin Rodriguez: I felt great. I wanted to go some rounds and I was able to get that. I was trying to get the knockout but it was like he was playing safe the whole time, running and holding. I was trying to bait him in by dropping my hands and welcome him to throw some shots so I would be able to counter him and try to get a knockout.

It’s pretty difficult trying to knock somebody out who is just on survival mode. That’s why I did a lot of things that I don’t usually do, like messing around a little bit. I had a little bit too much fun, but I was just trying to bait him into opening up so I could land some shots.

Jenna J: Now you’re fighting at 175 lbs. How do you feel fighting at this weight?

Edwin Rodriguez: I felt great, I had no issues and no stress. It was good, I felt strong.

Jenna J: You were coming off of the defeat to Andre Ward. What do you think you have leaned most from that loss?

Edwin Rodriguez: I learned a lot from that loss. In that fight I was really eager, I wanted to win so bad that I tried too hard and that allowed me to get too physical. I wanted to win so bad and I got so into the fight and so into the hype, I was just fighting out of emotion. In this fight I was able to settle down and learn from that and try to stay relaxed — yeah it was way too relaxed, but I just have to find a happy medium.

Fighting a guy like Andre Ward, I learned a lot from it, his style is very different than any other fighter out there. There were a lot of things that I was able to pick up and see. One of the things is when he’s holding you in the inside, he’s not holding you to survive or anything like that, he’s holding you to take advantage and put his hands in a position that is beneficial to him.

Andre does a lot of holding and punching, but it doesn’t seem like he’s doing it. He puts you in a position where both of your arms are tied up and you’re trying to pull out and when you’re trying to pull out, he’s coming around with a left hook. There was a lot to learn from Ward because he’s a fighter that fights different than everybody else.

Jenna J: Gennady Golovkin fought on the same card as you, and many people think that there aren’t any challenges left for him at 160lbs, that the only risk for him out there is Andre Ward. Do you think Andre Ward poses the biggest threat to Golovkin?

Edwin Rodriguez: I believe so because Ward has that style that’s very difficult to find answers to, and by the time you do figure it out, it’s too late. I think that would be a real good fight because Golovkin does bring that kind of power where Ward has to be aware the whole fight. But I think Ward has the style to be able to neutralize Golovkin’s power and outbox him in a twelve round decision.

Jenna J: What do you think about the people who think Floyd Mayweather should go up in weight and fight someone like Golovkin, someone who will be a serious risk to him?

Edwin Rodriguez: I don’t think that Floyd needs to do that, but if he wants to do that, I think it would be a great thing for boxing and it would be a great thing for Mayweather. If he is able to pull that off, I think that he would be the greatest of all time. I don’t think we should ask him to do that, but if he was to do that, that’s greatest of all time material.

Jenna J: A lot of people are upset with Mayweather because he’s not fighting the guys the fans want him to fight. Do you think Floyd owes the fans the Manny Pacquiao fight?

Edwin Rodriguez: I think that Mayweather has been fighting the best opposition there is, other than the Pacquiao fight. I think that fight will happen, I think that it should happen. I don’t think it’s all on Mayweather, I think it’s both sides that gotta come together and put the fight together. It’s a fight that I do want to see as well, but I think that would be an easy fight for Mayweather when it does happen.

Jenna J: Let’s talk about the division you’re competing in, light heavyweight. What do you think about the landscape of it?

Edwin Rodriguez: I think it’s a great weight class. I think that it has a lot of great fighters, Adonis Stevenson being the champion, since he defeated Chad Dawson by knockout, he’s a strong puncher. Hopkins and Kovalev are two really good fighters as well, although Hopkins is older, I think he’s as good as he ever was. The weight class is full of talent. I’m excited to be part of it and I want to fight with those names.

Jenna J: You mentioned Hopkins and Kovalev, those two are set to meet each other in the ring November 8th, who are you picking?

Edwin Rodriguez: I’m picking Hopkins, I think that Hopkins has the tools to be able to neutralize the type of power that Kovalev brings, and Hopkins is really, really smart and I think he will be able to pull it off. I do believe that Kovalev is a great fighter with big power, but I just think Hopkins is too smart, and every time I pick Hopkins to lose he pulls it out, so I’m not doing it again.

Jenna J: Back to yourself Edwin, how soon do you see yourself getting back in the ring?

Edwin Rodriguez: I got hit with a headbutt so I got a small cut, four stitches, but I’m trying to comeback as soon as possible. I’m hoping I get a fight before this year is over, we will see how they feel about it. I’m trying to comeback as soon as possible.

Jenna J: How far do you think you are away from challenging for a title at this weight?

Edwin Rodriguez: I feel I’m ready in one or two fights, I think I will be able to fight a top ten guy and be able to get myself highly ranked by the organizations to put myself in a good position. I got the right people working behind me with Lou Dibella and Al Haymon, I just got to keep winning and get a good opponent in there, look good and get the opportunity and I know they will be able to get it for me if I do my job.

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18 Responses to "Edwin Rodriguez: “Andre Ward has the style to be able to neutralize Golovkin’s power and outbox him”"
  1. Mateng says:

    A coward will never be great in the world of boxing. His legacy will always be haunted.

  2. barry gil r. pilar says:

    It’s too useless to talk of Gayfloyd fighting GGG who is a legit middlewight and is a bigger guy. Gayfloyd has still to overcome his fears of facing Pacquiao before even thinking of fighting Triple G. I dont think Floyd will have the balls to fight Golovkin and he should never do that because GGG will kill him in the ring. If i am Mayweather i will fight Manny so that the World will give me respect and not treat me as a fuckin’ coward. Mayweather, Ward and Hopkins are the TRINITY OF BORING FIGHTERS! They just RUN AND CLINCH their opponents in order to win. There is no absolutely a chance for Ward to win agaisnt Triple G! the kazhac will kill him too!

  3. wbox says:

    Nonesense. Floyd is in entertainment boxing.

  4. jun manso says:

    whahaha. Floyd could not even beat the Pacman how dare you mention Golovkin. If you force floyd to fight the Pacman or Golovkin he will committ suicide. thats for sure. nyahaha. Floyd is a Coward his legacy in question & should never be included in the all time greats. His a runner and not a boxer.

  5. vanguard says:

    How the hell Maynever will fight GGG. Maynever trembles when he hear the name Manny Pacquiao!
    COWARD! COWARD! COWARD! COWARD!COWARD!COWARD!COWARD!COWARD!COWARD!

  6. wbox says:

    this is BS! Floyd is in business, not boxing. He can fight GGG but has to employ the referee, judges, drug agency, pay out GGG to ensure he wins, i mean she. She also has to pay sportwriters and others so his numbers will be huge. And at the end of the day, after she has paid all of them, she has no more money but happy enough with his claimed pay and ppv #s.

  7. glen says:

    The real question is, will Floyd fight GGG? He won’t even fight Pacquiao. What makes you think he would fight Golovkin?

  8. Ijple says:

    A simple question for boxing fans, who’d be willingly and legally fight ggg between mayweather and pacquiao if fans forcefully demanded the fight?

  9. kissjonez says:

    This guy must be brain damage to even say that but its his poor opinion. Why is everyone so in awe with GGGby by the way?? So, is he greatest ever to lace up them gloves that whoever beats him becomes the greatest of all time??? HAHAHAHA!!!

    Again, GGG is good but not great! He hasnt been tested yet!
    Theyve been feeding him bums! Hes been knocking out D-C class fighters!

    That division that hes in lacks the talent and that is why he sticks out like a sore thumb!

    His last opponent Rubio ranked at number 5?? How funny is that?
    Cotto who recently moved up in the middleweight is already ranked number 1. Why??? Theres not much talent in that division! GGG needs to move up if he wants to get tested!

    Andre Ward is calling him up in all kinds of way and GGG’s just ignoring him. Lol!

  10. Ijple says:

    If I were President of America, i’d force mayweather to fight pac in order to save the american pride in the field of boxing

  11. Anonymous says:

    I believe that boxing as a sport has to be classified into two bodies or categories for now, one is a classic boxing where fighters really mix it up til the last bell with brawls and heart or the second one should just be a mere boxing circus where fighters just touch, dance and moves around the ring with graceful footwork and athletism. The fans now has a choice which to watch and which PPV will sell the most. Just one note for GGG, he is the most feared boxer for now and no class A fighters would risk to fight him.

  12. he can’t fight a smaller, Pacman……….. GGG!!!!! He’d rather be undefeated than be great. self proclaimed only

  13. rob says:

    A ducker and cherry picker won’t become the best of all time. It will be laughable if he will.

  14. Chris D says:

    LOL with a statement like that this guy has got to be one of the most punch drunk guests ever to appear on your show!

  15. jon says:

    Lol Yea right! Mayweather would NEVER fight GGG!

  16. Ted "Teddy" Rockspyn says:

    There’s more chance of sub-tropical temperatures in the Antartic than Cowardweather fighting GGG!

  17. KenHissner says:

    I liked Edwin and he has continued to move up in weight. If he feels that if Mayweather beats Golovkin he will be considered the greatest? The greatest what? Better than Sugar Ray Leonard let alone Sugar Ray Robinson? Mayweather will NOT fight GGG at 154 though he holds two of those titles. GGG is the man. I have been writing about him for several years even on his 2004 Olympic days and finally the rest of the press are starting to realize just how good he is.