Checo wins on TopRank / ESPN

at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale Arizona, August 12 2023 in the battle of Phoenix. 

August 12 at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale Arizona, TopRank / ESPN main card of Emanuel Navarrete (37-1) faced off against Oscar Valdez (31-1) for the WBO World Super Feather belt at Desert Diamond Arena.  This is a highly anticipated fight that was supposed to happen already but had to be pushed out. 

On the undercard, the event featured Phoenix’s own Sergio “Checo” Rodriguez (8-0-1) versus Eduardo Ayala (9-4-1).  This was a clash of two local super middleweights on the big stage of TopRank and ESPN.  Local boxing fans had been anticipating this fight for weeks

Ayala is coming off a loss heading into this fight.  However, his loss was on TopRank and ESPN at Desert Diamond Arena against Nico Ali Walsh.  Although Ayala loss this fight and was dropped in the second, he battled Walsh to the end, losing by unanimous decision. 

Sergio “Checo” Rodriguez is undefeated in 8 contests and his last victory came against Javier Barajas Escarcega (6-3) at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix Arizona on the Ironboy card, where he stopped Escarcega in the second round.  Rodriguez has 6 KOs to go along with his 7 victories.  This will be good test for Checo as he steps up to the big stage on TopRank and ESPN.  

Similar to Sergio “Checo” Rodriguez last fight, this contest would only go 2 rounds.  Rodriguez clipped Ayala in the second round with an overhand right that would send Ayala to the canvas in a Canelo / Kahn KO fashion.  Ayala would manage to get to his feet only to have the contest stopped for good upon the second knockdown of the round.  

Although Ayala went all six rounds with Walsh in his last fight, Rodriguez’s crushing right hand would be too much to handle on this night.  Rodriguez racked up his 8th victory on the big stage and his 7th Knockout.  Looking forward to seeing what’s next for this young man.  

Hats off to these two young warriors and we look forward to these two young men getting in the ring again. 

Thanks to TopRank and ESPN, Ironboy, and Stitch Duran.