Philippines, 21 Apr 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:

  • 2026 NBA Playoffs: First Round Game 1 Recap
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • FIDE Master Ivan Travis Cu gains a total of 36 rating points, bringing his FIDE rating to 2321 by May after completing 2 chess tournaments in Spain
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • Irish super middleweight prospect Tommy ‘The Governor’ Hyde Improves to 15-0 with 10th KO
    , Mon, 20 Apr 2026
  • IBA Bare-Knuckle Director attends historic Gambian Elite National Championships
    , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Rosales stops Obedencio in RFL 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Atty. Aldwin Alegre shines in 23rd Bangkok Chess Club
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Apr 2026
  • Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • JESSE RODRIGUEZ CHALLENGES ANTONIO VARGAS FOR WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE IN GLENDALE ON JUNE 13
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND PHOTOS FROM SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS - TOMORROW, APRIL 18 AT FRONTWAVE ARENA IN OCEANSIDE, CALIF.
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • OFFICIAL ‘REVOLUTION’ WEIGHTS FROM CORK, IRELAND
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • MIKHAIL GRIGORYAN DEFEATS JEO SANTISIMA, CROWNED NEW IBF ASIA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION IN SERPUKHOV
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Ra’eese Aleem Vows Victory Over Angelo Leo Ahead of May 9th IBF Title Fight in Atlanta
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • WCM Nika Juris Nicolas 10th in Serbia
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ PENS LONG TERM EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN AND MATCHROOM
    , Sat, 18 Apr 2026
  • Hermie Rivera: A Fil-Am Original
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AS BEN WHITTAKER TAKES ON BRAIAN SUAREZ – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Lerasan to fight for WBO Asian Pacific bantam title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Fuentes is now ready to fight in Juego Todo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • LIVERPOOL FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES IN FULL AS WHITTAKER GETS READY FOR TOUGH SUAREZ TEST – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Ancajas to fight as feather against Garcia on April 18
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • MVP presents Delgado-Artiga by WBA superflyweight championship on June 13 in Orlando
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Apr 2026
  • Mexican legend Miguel Canto passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 17 Apr 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.