JACKIEWICZ vs RODRIGUEZ IN AN IBF ELIMINATOR
On 27 November, Rafał "Braveheart" Jackiewicz (34-8-1, 18KO) will fight a bout against Delvin Rodriguez (24-3-2, 14KO) in an official IBF Welterweight Title eliminator. The encounter, scheduled for 12 rounds, will take place in Ełk (Poland) and will be promoted by Bullit Knockout Promotions in association with Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing.
32-year-old Jackiewicz seem to be convinced that not only the win in the next bout belongs to him, but also the IBF title in the nearest future.
- “I feel like I am the world champion” – the Polish welterweight speaks. “To be honest, I suspected that before I take on Hltashwayo, he will have his belt lost in an unification fight against one of American champions as Mosley or Cotto. I know where’s the limit of my means so I know that I would have minimal chances fighting with them. Rodriguez and Hlatshwayo is a perfect scheme for me. Obviously, I don’t disregard them but I’m sure I’ll defeat this opponents.” – explains Jackiewicz who expresses his respect for the Dominican rival. “Rodriguez is the best boxer I’ve ever fought. Our skills are similar but thanks to my strong determination I’ll defeat him”.
For Delvin Rodriguez, the bout in Ełk will be the first performance after the controversial failure in IBF Welterweight Title encounter with South African, Isaac Hlatshwayo (29-1-1, 10 KO). Joe DeGuardia, Rodriguez’s promoter is certain that he battle will finish in a knock out. “Jackiewicz is a very skilled fighter, so Delvin knows he can't look past him. He hasn't lost in over four years and he will have a whole country behind him fight night. I can tell you though that Delvin has a very bad taste left in his mouth and he is hungrier than ever to get another shot at the championship and promises he won't leave it to the judge's scorecards this time around.” – DeGuardia forecasts.
Besides Jackiewicz vs Rodriguez which will be the main event of the evening, Polish fans are expecting Krzysztof "Diablo" Włodarczyk (41-2-1, 31 KO) performance against experienced Bulgarian Konstantin Semerdjiev (27-11-2, 16 KO). Włodarczyk is an official WBC pretendent to the Cruiserweight Title and will definitely box with the winner of Fragomeni vs Erdei bout, scheduled on 21 November. In Ełk we will also see undefeated WBC Youth World Cruiserweight champion - Tomasz Hutkowski (15-0-1, 11 KO) in his last defence fight (the Pole has just finished 23). The opponent of the Polish prospect will be a 27-year-old Croat Ivica Bacurin (5-0-1, 1 KO).
