Philippines, 21 May 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:

  • JONES VS. GUALTIERI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: From Madrid to Johannesburg – The Legacy of the WBC in South Africa
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TYSON VS. MAYWEATHER EXHIBITION IS ON— TYSON BROKEN HAND PUSHES EVENT FROM SPRING TO FALL OF 2026
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Three Lions Promotions Building pro boxing back to Glory days in Metro Vancouver
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Jenn Perella shines, Bobby Laing stops Russ Kimber in 1st round
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Gustavo Trujillo Looks to Continue his Rise in the Heavyweight Division
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • Filipino Francisco "Django" Bustamante rules 2026 Buffalo’s Pro Classic 1 Ball One Pocket Division
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Secures Eight More Victories on Day Three of 2026 Copa America
    , Thu, 21 May 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 19 MAY 2026: Davis Outpoints Albright; Kuse Dethrones Jerusalem; Donovan Defeats Chukhadzhian; Hrgovic Stops Allen
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Knicks Rally from 22 Points Down to Beat Cavs 115-104 in OT
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Filipino grabs second place in the National Canada Chess Challenge 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • Spotlight on Mexico City: boxers speak ahead of IBA Pro 18
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: Wembanyama Outshines MVP Gilgeous-Alexander as Spurs Beat Thunder 122-115 in Double Overtime Thriller
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • 0 MUST GO: SELDON JR. vs. POPPER — JUNE 13 AT THE TROP
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • CARL “THE COBRA” FROCH REUNITES WITH ANDRE WARD ON ART OF WARD FOR FIRST IN-DEPTH SIT-DOWN SINCE THEIR LEGENDARY SUPER SIX FINAL
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • BOXING LEGEND DARREN BARKER ANNOUNCES 'THE LONGEST ROUND' – A WORLD-FIRST ENDURANCE CHALLENGE FOR MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • IBA stands ready to organise Jon Jones professional boxing fight in Russia
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Earns Eight More Wins on Day Two at 2026 Copa America
    , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • QC ends PCAP Season 6 All-Filipino conference campaign
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 20 May 2026
  • It’s in the blood
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • “The fans will be the true winners” – Angel Ayala ready for IBA PRO 18 in Mexico City
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Rematch option for Melvin
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • World-class stablemates John ‘Scrappy’ Ramirez & Darius ‘DFG’ Fulghum fighting on same card Friday night in San Jose
    , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • Ignacio Defeats Malayan to Claim Title and USD 10,000 Prize
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 19 May 2026
  • USA Boxing Elite High Performance Squad Dominates Day One of 2026 Copa America with 11-0 Record
    , Tue, 19 May 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.