Ella Scott
Hotel staff found Mexican boxer Pedro Antonio 'Tony' Rodriguez dead in his hotel room, just hours after he competed in a professional bout in Phoenix, Arizona.
37-year-old Rodriguez, a super-bantamweight fighter, held court at the American Royal Palace on Saturday (July 5), where he was beaten via unanimous decision by 21-year-old Phillip Vella in a boxing event billed as the ‘Brawl in Barrio’.
The 'Sin City Sicilian' extended his winning streak to four after going six rounds with Rodriguez, whose record totalled 15 wins and 26 losses before his death.
After losing the bout, organised by the Arizona State Boxing and MMA Commission, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) employee returned to his hotel room with plans in place to have dinner with other boxers on the De Sol Boxing Promotions card, as per Marca.
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However, Rodriguez failed to attend the evening and didn’t show up the following morning (July 6) for his transport to the airport.
Worried staff who unlocked his door found him unresponsive in the hotel room, TalkSport reported.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the Durago-born athlete’s death, the Mirror claims. Arizona authorities have also yet to establish whether there is any connection between Rodriguez’s death and his fight against Vella.
Karla Valenzuela, Rodriguez’s wife, has said her last interaction with her husband came straight after his and Vella’s fight concluded.
“He called me when his fight ended. Even when the show was over and he left for the hotel, he talked to me, he made a video call.
"He told me that he was going out to buy dinner and that he was coming back because at 3:30am in the morning they were going to pick them up to take them to the airport, that was the only thing I talked to him about.”
Valenzuela said she didn’t know what ‘really happened’, but suspected some kind of ‘blow’ could be the cause of her spouse’s death.
"I am also confused. We have to wait until tomorrow to see what the report says.”
Del Sol Boxing Promotions has paid tribute to Vella, who returned to boxing earlier this year after a six-year hiatus, writing: “The Del Sol Boxing family is heartbroken at the death of Pedro Antonio Rodriguez.
"Our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones. Out of respect for his family, please join us in waiting for the local authorities to complete their work and investigation."
Vella has also taken to social media to send his respects to the boxer’s family, typing: “Truly heartbroken to find out this news.
"Thankful to have shared the ring with Pedro for six rounds. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest easy, champion."