In unhappy information, it has been reported by Brazilian media that former heavyweight contender Jose Adilson Rodrigues has handed away on the nonetheless comparatively younger age of 66. Rodrigues, referred to as “Maguila” throughout his ring profession, had been battling pugilistic dementia since 2013.
An excellent fighter who was bodily robust, Rodrigues additionally had energy, and he might transfer within the ring if he wished to. Blessed with fairly quick fingers, Rodrigues was sadly not blessed with an ideal chin, even when he had a ton of coronary heart and need. Throughout his 17-year professional profession, Adilson rumbled with a few of the largest names of the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, together with Evander Holyfield, James “Bonecrusher” Smith, George Foreman, and James “Fast” Tillis.
Rodrigues, simply probably the most celebrated Brazilian heavyweight boxer within the nation’s historical past, was at one time skilled by the good Angelo Dundee, most notably for the Foreman combat in 1990. Sadly, after an honest hit-and-move opening spherical, Rodrigues was taken out by Foreman, who was in spherical two. A 12 months earlier, Holyfield had KO’d Rodrigues within the second spherical.
These spotlight reel KO losses apart, Rodrigues picked up some good wins, over Smith and Tillis, with each wins approaching factors; whereas “Maguila” additionally scored wins over British heavy Hughroy Currie, this in 1988, and British cruiserweight, now famous pundit, Johnny Nelson.
Rodrigues KO’d Currie earlier than his fights with Holyfield and Foreman, whereas he then received two 12-round determination victories over Nelson years later, in 1995. The choices in Rodrigues’ favor might nicely have resulted in some, let’s say, dwelling cooking! However Rodrigues was a hero in Brazil, with lots of his fights going down in Sao Paulo.
Retiring in 2000 with a 77-7-1(61) report, Rodrigues received each the South American and the Brazil heavyweight title throughout his at instances very thrilling profession. Another names Rodrigues managed to defeat embrace Rocky Sekorski, Mike Jameson, Reggie Gross, Alfredo Envangelista, Dave Garside (one other British heavyweight), and Dave Jaco.
“Maguila” threatened the highest heavyweights for some time, but he in the end fell quick. All those that knew Jose had nothing however nice affection for him. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has joined these paying tribute to this fallen warrior.
Our ideas and condolences exit to Jose’s household and mates right now.
