Nathan Rodriguez takes a step-up clash vs Bryan Mercado in Zepeda-Redkach undercard
The development of Nathan Rodriguez is off the charts.
The unbeaten featherweight will face Bryan Mercado tonight at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California. The eight-round bout will precede the main event between welterweights Jose Zepeda and Ivan Redkach.
Both fights will stream live on DAZN (11 p.m. ET/ 8 p.m. PT).
Rodriguez (15-0, 10 knockouts), who resides in the Los Angeles suburb of Pico Rivera, is the son of promoter Marv Rodriguez, who has seen significant growth and development working with trainer Eddy Reynoso.
Marv Rodriguez believes his son will only continue getting better, and could have a breakthrough year in 2025.
“Nathan is definitely a prospect you want to keep your eye out for,” Marv Rodriguez told The Ring on Thursday morning. “He has shown growth, as he has fought in multiple eight and 10-round fights. His elusive defense, slick head movement, speed, and power continue to improve, especially after having the privilege to learn from a world-class trainer like Eddy Reynoso. Very soon, he will turn from a promising prospect to a legitimate contender.
“(On Friday, Nathan) will have the opportunity to showcase his skills to the world once again, fighting on a major platform like DAZN for the fourth time in his young career. He is looking to stay busy in 2024, closing out the year strong and looks forward to big fights in 2025.”
The 20-year-old defeated Alexander Mejia by majority decision on May 6 of last year. The win over Mejia was on the biggest stage of his career, thus far, as the fight took place on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez-John Ryder fight at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, a suburb of Guadalajara.
In his last bout on June 28, Rodriguez dominated Jose Saant, forcing him to remain on his stool and not come out for round four.
Five weeks before the win over Saant, Rodriguez squared off against Andres Ampan in a clash of unbeaten featherweight prospects, scoring a knockout win at the end of round three.
Aside from the United States and Mexico, Rodriguez has fought six times as a pro in Costa Rica.
Mercado (11-5-1, 6 KOs), who is originally from Quito, Ecuador and now lives and trains in Las Vegas, Nevada, was stopped by Jhon Bolano at the end of round nine of his last fight on March 13.
The 29-year-old has lost four of his last five fights, including a knockout loss to Rene Tellez Giron on March 30 of last year.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at santio89@yahoo.com
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