OXNARD, CALIF. - Elizabeth Rodriguez wasn't satisfied with simply claiming a state championship, so the 14-year-old boxer went a step further last week by winning a National Police Activities League championship in the 101-pound division.
Fighting in Oxnard, Calif., Rodriguez overcame the No. 1 fighter in the nation in her division, according to Rodriguez' father and trainer Jerry Rodriguez. Beating Senaida Maldonado, a fighter out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, in three rounds, Rodriguez earned a unanimous decision to win the title, as well as a belt for being the best female fighter at the tournament.
"I told Elizabeth in order to beat this girl she was going to have to fight smart," Jerry Rodriguez said. After winning both of the first two rounds convincingly, he then told her not to waste time, and finish strong.
Randy Guerrero, younger brother of two-time IBF champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, lost a close decision on points to 125-pounder Juan Ramirez, last year's National PAL champion, to take third place. It was the first national tournament for the 16-year-old Randy Guerrero.
Josh Koehn Josh Koehn is the sports editor for the Gilroy Dispatch. He can be reached at (408) 842-1694 or at jkoehn@svnewspapers.com.
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