This weeks edition of Friday Night Fight’s on ESPN looks excellent on paper. Top New England prospect Edwin Rodriguez (13-0, 9 KO’s) makes his national TV debut against tough veteran George Armenta (13-5, 11 KO’s) in a super middleweight tilt and junior middleweights Deandre Latimore (20-2, 16 KO’s) and Sechew Powell (25-2, 15 KO’s) square off in a title elimination rematch of their exciting encounter in JUne 2008.
Of course, we’ll get commentator Teddy Atlas’ thoughts on the Manny Pacquiao – Joshua Clottey welterweight title fight that weekend and the chatter will once again commence about a possible Pacquiao – Floyd Mayweather showdown at some point down the line and the negotiations for drug testing protocol prior to the bout.
Atlas famously spoke of an unnamed source who he said saw emails from the Pacquiao camp discussing what would happen in the event Pacman failed a drug test prior to a fight with Mayweather. Those comments from Atlas accrued substantial interest among boxing fans in online forums and here on The Examiner.
Rodriguez appears poised for his bout with Armenta this week and was in great spirits when I chatted with him at Manfredo’s Gym in Providence on Monday. To see what Rodriguez had to say, a video interview is below.
In Latimore – Powell, we know what we’re getting into this time. The first time they fought, Latimore was thought to be a soft touch for Powell on Sechew’s way to a title show. An upset TKO for Latimore proved Powell’s handlers wrong and spirits should be good for this weeks fight.
