THE GREATNESS OF LUIS MANUEL RODRIGUEZ

The guy people don't talk about when they talk Cuban greats, and we should. The first thing one notices about Rodriguez is the way he is built. He is almost Saddlerish. 5'8 but with a 74" reach. That's the same reach as Roy Jones. But Rodriguez is a welterweight! The Cuban fought a little like the energizer bunny. Everything was always moving, hands, feet, head, shoulders, everything. He was an excellent boxer, a constant combination puncher with more than a little pop. Rodriguez was full of guile and style. He turned pro at 18 and had his first dozen fights against never weres and then at 19 and in his thirteenth fight he gets tested.


Benny Kid Paret-Future two time undisputed welterweight champion. Luis shows his class by beating his fellow Cuban. UD10. . Six months later the two do it again and the result is the same. UD10.

Virgil Akins-Former undisputed welterweight champion had lost the crown six months before. Luis makes a HUGE statement. UD10. One year later Rodriguez does it again. UD10.

Isaac Logart-Ranked #4 welter. Rodriguez in a wide decision. UD10.

Gaetan Hart-Ranked #6 but coming off a win over Logart. Rodriguez dominates him too. UD10.

Yama Bahama-The #7 ranked MIDDLEWEIGHT in the world. It's a tough fight and the ref has it a draw. But the two judges have Luis by several points. MD10.

Emil Griffith-The HOFer is the reigning welterweight champion and is destined to be Rodriguez's greatets rival. The two men headline at MSG and Griffith hands Luis his first defeat after 35 wins. it was a razor close split decision the ref had Rodriguez winning. UD10. Watching these two men fight is something for the degenerate fan. Feints, craft, excellence? In abundance. Thrills? Not so much.

Curtis Cokes-The future undisputed welter champion, HOFer and now #10 ranked welter drops Luis and hands him his second defeat in a split decision in Cokes Dallas hometown. UD10. Four months later he shuts Cokes out in Miami. UD10.

Luis Federico Thompson-Ranked #6 and had lost a split decision to champion Benny Kid Paret one year before. Rodriguez jost dominates him UD10.

Yama Bahama II-Again ranked #7, Rodrigues splits his eye open. TKO3.

Gene Armstrong-This guy could beat anyone except Dick Tiger. In his last two fights Armstrong had beaten #4 ranked middle Henry Hank and lost to the HOF Tiger by TKO. Rodriguez ends his career. TKO8.

Joey Giambra-The #9 ranked middleweight. Rodriguez gives up seven pounds and cruises. UD10.

Luis Manuel Rodriguez is now 23 years old. He is 50-2 with his only losses to future champions and HOFers. He has beaten ranked fighters on eight occasions. But only now does he get his title crack.

Emil Griffith II-Emil is in his second title run. He has three defenses since winning the title back in hist tragic third fight with Benny Kid Paret. Another close and tactical fight but this time all three judges see it the same. UD15 and Luis Manuel Rodriguez is undisputed welterweight champion of the world.

Emil Griffith III-Only three months later they meet again. The referee gives Rodriguez nine rounds, it isn't enough. The two judges both have Griffith the winner and he takes back the crown. SD15.

Denny Moyer-The former undisputed 154 king is now the #6 ranked middle. Rodriguez is just too fast. TKO9.

Skeeter McLure-The Olympic champion is unbeaten. But only going into the fight. Giving up nine pounds Luis beats him. UD10. Six weeks later Rodriguez does it again. UD10.

Griffith IV-Griffith is still champion. This is ANOTHER razor close fight in Griffith's favor. SD15.

Rubin Carter-The Hurricane is ranked #3 middle and is coming off a loss in challenging HOFer Joey Giardello for the title. Luis gets off the floor to win seven rounds. UD10. Six months later Luis does it again. UD10.

Curtis Cokes III-In a fight to see who gets a shot at the now vacant welter title, Cokes ends Rodriguez's welter career and stops him for the first time. TKO15.

Benny Briscoe-Bad Benny already has a draw with ATG Carlos Monzon. But Rodriguez is just too quick. UD10. Nine months later the result is the same. UD10.

Ferd Henandez-Ranked #6 at middle. No contest. UD10.

Joe Shaw-Ranked #10. Close fight but Rodriguez gets it done. UD10.

Rafael Gutierrez-Now 32 years old, a pro for fourteen years and with 9 fights under his belt, Rodriguez gets one final run. The winner gets middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti. TKO6.

Nino Benvenuti-The HOFer defends his crown in his native Italy. Rodriguez has Nino unsettled, bloody,befuddled, unsure and behind. After ten rounds it seems Rodriguez is on his way to becoming one of the very few men ever to win both the welter and middle crowns. In the middle of the eleventh Benvenuti lands a picture perfect leaping left hook and they could have counted to 20. KO11.

That really marks the end of Rodriguez's greatness. But even in decline he is impressive.

Fraser Scott-Ranked #5 middleweight. Luis can still get it done. UD10

Tony Mundine-Will go on to challenge Carlos Monzon for the middle crown. Rodriguez is supposed to be a stepping stone. Um, nope. Luis takes him out in the first minute. KO1.

That's it. Rodriguez finishes 107-13. Undisputed welter champion. Defeated HOFers on three occasions and beat ranked men 20+ times. Just one hell of a boxer.

i loved watching luiz fight..perpetual motion always doing something..v ery crafty fighter who fought several good and top fighters..a great fighter who never failed to entertain me when he fought..

thanks never knew about this guy...BUT for a second i really thought you were referring about the famous latin singer el puma "DUEÑO DE TIIII...DUEÑO DE QUIEN??? DUEÑ DE NADAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"