Cutman Mike Rodriguez has spent a lifetime in boxing corners, the place each second counts and errors can price a fighter dearly. But it surely’s not simply the very important moments within the ring that outline Rodriguez; it is the lasting bonds and classes discovered which have formed his profession.
Rodriguez has labored with titleholders like Manny Pacquiao, Dmitry Bivol, Errol Spence, Shawn Porter, Jaime Munguia, Jaron Ennis, and Yordenis Ugas. His present roster consists of Katie Taylor, Vergil Ortiz Jnr, Denys Berinchyk, Erickson Lubin and Eimantas Stanionis.
For Rodriguez, being an amazing coach or cutman is not nearly technical abilities – it is about mastering the basics, understanding a fighter’s psychological state, and understanding your position throughout the group. Maybe his capacity to work as a part of a group comes naturally, as does being within the “blood enterprise.” Rodriguez has spent 37 years with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Division, together with the final 20 years as a murder detective.
“A fantastic coach is somebody who pays consideration and makes the fighter grasp the basics – each bodily and mentally,” Rodriguez advised BoxingScene. “Simply because somebody is quick doesn’t imply they react faster. John Wood stated it finest: ‘Be quick, however don’t hurry.’ It’s not sufficient to be fast in case you can’t successfully use the instruments you’ve acquired.” His meticulous method mirrors the precision wanted in each nook. A coach, like a cutman, should perceive the fighter inside and outside.
Rodriguez discovered this over years of working with boxing’s largest names. From time spent with high trainers like Freddie Roach, Buddy McGirt, and Stephen “Breadman” Edwards, whom he considers household, he has soaked up data he can apply to trendy rising stars like Vergil Ortiz Jnr. His journey began when he first stepped right into a boxing gymnasium in Harmony, California, below coach Terry Lee. He compares a boxing group to a NASCAR pit crew, the place each member is aware of their position.
“The man altering tires isn’t dealing with the gasoline. That’s the easiest way I can describe a very good group,” Rodriguez stated. “As combat evening approaches, the individuals who have entry to the fighter ought to shrink. Everybody must know their position so the fighter has the perfect probability to win.”
Although boxing is a results-driven enterprise, Rodriguez believes success goes past outcomes – it is about constructing belief, proving your worth, and turning into indispensable to the group. This mindset has helped him forge lasting bonds, notably with former unified champion Julian Williams and Edwards, his coach. Rodriguez joined their group throughout Williams’ fourth professional combat in December 2010 at Chumash On line casino, Santa Ynez, California.
“We’ve been collectively for 14 years. Julian and Breadman are like household to me,” Rodriguez stated. “We’ve stayed in one another’s properties, and our relationship has grown past boxing.”
Edwards remembers their first assembly.
“I met Mike Rodriguez via BoxRec,” Edwards stated. “I noticed his identify because the supervisor for a fighter from California. I advised him I needed to match J-Rock with the child as a result of we had been preventing at Chumash On line casino. Mike laughed and stated J-Rock would mild the child up however talked about he additionally labored cuts. So I introduced him on as our cutman, and we have been collectively ever since.”
Edwards, generally known as a coach additionally has a preferred weekly boxing column, praised Rodriguez past the standard credit score given to cutmen.
“He’s in all probability the perfect cutman in boxing, and it’s symbolic to me that we began across the identical time,” Edwards stated. “Mike is like household. I belief him to not solely do his job, however he is aware of me so properly that in combat week, he instinctively is aware of what to do and what to not do. He’s an amazing man.”
Ortiz Jnr, a high contender at junior welterweight, is seen by many as one of many sport’s future stars. Rodriguez joined Ortiz’s group for his combat towards welterweight Michael McKinson, whereas giving full credit score to Robert Garcia, Vergil Ortiz Snr and Hector Beltran, who are also part of Ortiz’s group.
“I used to be introduced in 4 fights in the past to be Vergil Ortiz’s cutman,” Rodriguez stated. “Within the second spherical of our first combat collectively, Vergil acquired lower, and I used to be capable of cease it. He ended up knocking the man out within the eleventh spherical. From that second on, I earned my spot.”
In keeping with Rodriguez, bonds like this are constructed on mutual respect and shared experiences.
“Once you go to battle with somebody within the ring, that bond often thrives,” Rodriguez stated. “It’s about proving your self professionally, so that they know if one thing occurs to their face, you’ll get them via it.”
Whilst considered one of boxing’s high cutmen, Rodriguez stays humble, giving credit score to his friends within the trade.
“There’s mutual respect amongst us,” Rodriguez stated. “There’s much less politics at our stage as a result of we’ve confirmed ourselves. Too many individuals now attempt to be a gimmick. I at all times inform younger cutmen, let your work converse for itself.”
Rodriguez speaks with admiration for Jacob “Sew” Duran, in addition to Rudy Hernandez, Danny Milano, Carlos Vargas and Joe Chavez, who laid the groundwork for his profession. His profession isn’t nearly patching up cuts – it’s about forming unbreakable bonds, understanding your position, and mastering the basics. In any case, as Rodriguez says, “the satan is within the particulars.”
Mike Bazzel remembers the primary time he met cutman Mike Rodriguez throughout a tricky combat between his fighter Bruno Escalante and Matthew Villanueva on the Sportsman’s Lodge in Studio Metropolis, California. Escalante, regardless of being harm, battled via eight rounds, chopping Villanueva over the attention early within the combat. The lower was deep and in a troublesome spot, however Rodriguez managed to cease the bleeding, permitting Villanueva to maintain preventing and win the combat.
“I bear in mind after the combat, each fighters had been battered,” Bazzel stated. “It was Bruno’s hardest combat, however Mike stopped that lower, and it was an unimaginable job. I went as much as him and advised him, ‘Man, we tried to get Bruno to go after that lower, however you pulled it collectively. I’ve acquired to commend you, that was a beautiful job.'”
That second sparked a friendship and mutual respect. “Mike is world-class,” Bazzel added. “When one thing dangerous occurs within the ring, he is the man who will make certain your fighter can preserve going. A world-class fighter wants a world-class lower man, and Mike brings that.”
His success earned him a high-profile consumer – Katie Taylor. Which means that as soon as once more, come November 16 in Texas, Rodriguez will sq. off with Bazzel.
“Let me provide you with an instance. I’m now working with Katie Taylor, and I give my good good friend Mike Bazzel credit score,” Rodriguez stated. “He was double-booked, and I labored with Katie. Now, Katie’s preventing Amanda Serrano. Mike works with Amanda, so now I’m working with Katie, and Mike’s working with Amanda for the rematch. This is among the largest girls’s fights ever.”
Rodriguez has handed on the crew to his son Andrew, who’s now a veteran and revered lower man in his personal proper. Andrew has labored with Stanionis, a present titleholder amongst different numerous professionals. Rodriguez has a profession purpose although as he has labored with 27 titleholders, however goals to work with many extra.
“I believe a practical purpose at this level is perhaps 40,” Rodriguez stated. “As a result of world champions don’t develop on bushes.”
Lucas Ketelle is a proud member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America and creator of “Inside The Ropes of Boxing” (out there on Amazon). Contact him on X @LukieBoxing.
