Philippines, 20 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Nisa Rodriguez to return to ring Dec. 17th on “Holiday Fight Night 3” at Sony Hall in Times Square

PhilBoxing.com





European vacation will not Interfere with her training

NEW YORK CITY (November 25, 2024) – Little did New York City middleweight Nisa Rodriguez (2-0) know when she booked a European vacation for her family that it would be one week prior to her return to the ring.

Rated No. 9 by the World Boxing Council (WBC), promotional free agent Rodriguez will fight in her first scheduled six-round match against Melody Popravak (2-1-1, 1 KO) on Tuesday, December 17, at Sony Hall in Times Square, on a show presented by Boxing Insider Promotions.

It’s been difficult for Rodriguez’ manager, NYC-based lawyer Keith Sullivan, to secure opponents for Nisa, largely because of her rich amateur pedigree, as well as her weight class limitations in terms of quality opponents. In fact, she had to fight at super middleweight in her two pro fights to date, although she will take on middleweight Popravak next month, in her natural weight class.

Nisa is also an eight-time New York Daily News Golden Gloves, six-time Metro Championships, two-time Empire State, and Caribbean and Central Americano gold medalist. A former schoolteacher, Rodriguez has been a NYC police officer for two years, stationed citywide for the rapid response unit, specializing in any crimes that involve adolescents and supporting families of homicides. In addition to being a fulltime police officer and pro boxer, if that were not enough, Nisa works with youths in a program at Cops & Kids Gym in Brooklyn, and she’s married with three children.

Because of the aforementioned difficulties finding time to book a family vacation and figuring she wouldn’t fight again in 2024; Nisa booked a trip to Europe only to shortly find-out that she had an offer to fight at home on Dec. 17. Rather than cancel her vacation and attempt to find another time she and her family could go away together, they’re all heading overseas and just like she does in the ring, Nisa will properly adjust to the situation.

“I was hoping to fight again this year,” she explained, “and I kept pushing our vacation off. I had nothing (fights) in December and my birthday will be while we’re away. We’re a humble family, saved up, and we are still going to Europe. So, I’ll get in my roadwork in Paris, and my husband (Wilson Hernandez) and son (Emerson Pina) will be my technical sparring partners. My husband fights in the Master’s Division and we’re about the same weight. My son is a good amateur boxer, only 15, but he’s strong, 6’ 1” and 145 pounds. I’m not his coach, though. We have a parent-child dynamic, and unless he asks for boxing advice from me, I don’t offer any.

“From being a member of the Puerto Rico Team in the amateurs, I know some fighters over there (in Europe), and I will have gyms to train at and spar in. Most of the week we’ll be in Paris, but we’re going to try and go to Rome, too. I really want to see The Colosseum because boxers are like modern-day gladiators.”

Her manager Keith Sullivan added: “I was prepared to take her out of the fight, but she said, ‘No, I’ll stay in shape. We’re a boxing family; my son and husband will spar, work the mitts and help keep my conditioning on point.’ “Nisa excels at everything she does, so I backed down and contracted to go forward with the fight. I would never agree to this for any fighter not named Nisa Rodriguez.”

Rodriguez is happy to finally be fighting as a middleweight and unconcerned about the two additional rounds for her first scheduled six-round bout.

“I feel that the time fighting as an elite amateur prepared me because we fought four 2-minute rounds, the same in the pros, but I always trained hard and felt I could have fought longer,” Rodriguez noted. “Two-minute rounds go really fast. I like to counterpunch and move around the ring, but now I can sit down more to punch because of the two extra rounds from what I’ve been accustomed to. I’m happy to be fighting as a middleweight, but I always try to come in light anyway.”

Tickets are on sale and may be purchased online at https://www.ticketweb.com/event/boxing-insider-fight-night-sony-hall-tickets/14011593.

Sullivan also manages 3-time, 2-division world champion Miyo Yoshida (17-5), undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor (4-0, 2 KOs), in addition to co-managing world-rated (IBF & WBA #6, WBC #14) welterweight contender Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan (14-0, 11 KOs), the reigning WBA Continental Champion from Limerick, Ireland. Sullivan co-manages Donovan with former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, who is also Donovan’s head trainer.

INFORMATION
Instagram: @Sweet_destruction
Facebook: /NisaRodriguez




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • LIDDARD-DENNY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AHEAD OF SATURDAY'S COPPER BOX FIGHT NIGHT
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: The WBC Continues the Fight for the Good of the Sport
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • AMMO: ADAMES FIGHT WILL BE EXPLOSIVE
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Carlos De Leon Training Camp Notes
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • The Highly Anticipated  Box Fan Expo Invitational 2026 Returns with A  USA Boxing Amateur Show
    , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Placibe, Sales tops Sprint Challenge
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 20 Mar 2026
  • Lester Martinez vs. Immanuwel Aleem Los Angeles Media Day Quotes
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • MAPUA, PSKAI R-10 to play in Best of Best
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • IIEE Metro East dominates the 4th D’ Engineers’ Darts Cup 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • LIDDARD: WHY I'M RUNNING MATCHROOM HALF MARATHON AFTER TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST DENNY
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: DAZN and Top Rank Sign Multi-Year Rights Deal
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • DAZN and Top Rank announce a landmark multi-year media rights deal bringing elite events and a storied archive to DAZN users worldwide
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • Sampson Boxing Signs Top Junior Lightweight Contender Charly Suarez to a Promotional Contract
    , Thu, 19 Mar 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • 12-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.