Elvis Rodriguez

Elvis Severino Rodriguez Mendoza (born January 14, 1996), better known as "The Dominican Kid," is a Dominican professional boxer who fights in the super lightweight division as a southpaw.^[1][2][3] Hailing from Santo Domingo, Rodriguez turned professional in 2018 after a distinguished amateur career that included silver medals at the 2017 Pan American Championships and the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games.^[4][1] As of November 2025, his professional record stands at 18 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, with 14 of his victories coming by knockout.^[1][2] Signed to Top Rank Boxing, Rodriguez has competed on high-profile cards, securing notable victories over former world title challenger Viktor Postol by technical knockout in 2023 and earning a majority decision win against Joseph Adorno earlier that year.^[4] He suffered a majority decision loss to undefeated contender Lindolfo Delgado in April 2025 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, but rebounded with a second-round knockout win over Alejandro Frias Rodriguez on October 18, 2025, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California.^[4][1] Standing at 5 feet 10 inches with a 71-inch reach, Rodriguez is recognized for his aggressive style and knockout power, positioning him as a rising figure in the 140-pound weight class.^[4][3]

Early life and amateur career

Early life

Elvis Severino Rodriguez Mendoza was born on January 14, 1996, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, specifically in the Los Mina sector. He grew up in a close-knit family with both parents and two older brothers, in an environment where boxing held significant cultural importance. His father, a devoted fan of the sport and of Elvis Presley, influenced his early interests profoundly; the elder Rodriguez maintained a prominent painting of the singer in their living room and named his son after the iconic musician shortly after his birth.^[5][4][1] As a child, Rodriguez initially pursued baseball, a popular sport in the Dominican Republic, but his tendency to engage in street fights drew attention from local coaches who recommended channeling his energy into boxing. He began training at the age of 11 under the guidance of coach Jesus Pujol, who quickly recognized his potential and predicted he could become a world champion. Rodriguez credits his father's passion for boxing as a key influence, recalling vivid memories of watching major fights together, such as Felix Trinidad versus Oscar De La Hoya, which ignited his enthusiasm for the ring.^[6] By age 14, Rodriguez had joined the Dominican national boxing team, transitioning from youth competitions to more advanced amateur events, including the Pan American Championships and Central American and Caribbean Games. This early dedication to the sport, rooted in his family's support and his own street-honed resilience, laid the foundation for his standout amateur career before turning professional at 22.^[6][4]

Amateur achievements

Rodriguez emerged as a prominent amateur boxer representing the Dominican Republic in the light welterweight division (64 kg). He secured a silver medal at the 2017 Pan American Boxing Championships in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where he advanced to the final but fell to Cuba's Andy Cruz.^[4][7] Later that year, Rodriguez competed at the 2017 AIBA World Boxing Championships in Hamburg, Germany, earning a bye in the round of 32 before defeating an opponent in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinals, where he lost unanimously to Andy Cruz by a 0-5 score.^[8] In 2018, he claimed another silver medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Barranquilla, Colombia, again finishing as runner-up to Andy Cruz in the light welterweight final. These accomplishments highlighted his international competitiveness and paved the way for his transition to professional boxing in late 2018.^[4]

Professional career

Professional debut and early fights

Rodriguez made his professional boxing debut on November 9, 2018, at the Big Punch Arena in Tijuana, Mexico, defeating Valentin Juan Ortiz Hernandez by third-round technical knockout.^[1] The 22-year-old Dominican prospect, transitioning from a decorated amateur career, showcased his power and technical skill early, overwhelming his opponent with combinations that forced a stoppage after Ortiz Hernandez absorbed heavy punishment.^[9] In his second professional bout on April 12, 2019, Rodriguez traveled to the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where he secured a second-round knockout victory over Kevin Alfonso Luna.^[1] Luna, a Mexican fighter with a modest record, was dropped by a sharp left hook and finished on the follow-up, extending Rodriguez's early momentum. However, his third fight on June 28, 2019, at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, ended abruptly in a first-round technical draw against Joaquin Chavez due to an accidental headbutt that caused a cut above Rodriguez's eye, requiring medical attention.^[1] Despite the setback, the bout was ruled a no-fault draw, preserving Rodriguez's undefeated status at 2-0-1.^[1] Rodriguez rebounded strongly in his next outing on August 17, 2019, stopping Jesus Gonzales by second-round knockout at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, demonstrating resilience and finishing ability against a durable opponent.^[1] He followed this with a first-round knockout of Ramon Mascarena on September 21, 2019, at Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, and a stoppage win over Luis Norambuena on November 9, 2019, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.^[1] These victories highlighted his aggressive style and punching power, building his record to 5-0-1 with four knockouts by late 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the boxing schedule, but Rodriguez emerged as a standout in Top Rank's series of events held in the MGM Grand "Bubble" in Las Vegas starting in July 2020. Over the next seven months, he fought five times in the isolated environment, securing knockouts in each: a first-round stoppage against Danny Murray on July 2, a first-round knockout of Denis Okoth on July 21, a third-round knockout of Cody Wilson on August 29, a third-round knockout of Cameron Krael on October 9, and an eighth-round unanimous decision over Luis Alberto Veron on February 20, 2021.^[4] These performances, against a mix of journeymen and prospects, elevated his profile, as he adapted to the high-volume schedule while maintaining a high finish rate in the Bubble, contributing to an early professional record of 10-0-1 with nine stoppages by early 2021.^[1]

Breakthrough bouts and title pursuits

Rodriguez experienced his first professional setback on May 15, 2021, when he lost a unanimous decision to Kenneth Sims Jr. over 12 rounds in a fight for the WBO International super lightweight title, dropping his record to 11-1-1.^[1] He had been promoted by Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) since this loss. He rebounded emphatically five months later, securing a breakthrough victory by knocking out previously undefeated prospect Juan Pablo Romero in the fifth round on November 6, 2021, during the undercard of Canelo Álvarez vs. Caleb Plant at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.^[10] This stoppage, achieved with a devastating left hand after two knockdowns, improved Rodriguez's record to 12-1-1 (10 KOs) and showcased his southpaw power against a 14-0 opponent, earning praise for revitalizing his momentum as a PBC prospect.^[11][12] Building on this, Rodriguez delivered another statement win on March 26, 2022, battering Juan Jose Velasco to a seventh-round technical knockout at the Armory in Minneapolis, where Velasco's corner stopped the fight after sustained body work.^[13] This performance elevated his profile further, pushing his knockout rate above 80% and positioning him as a contender in the 140-pound division.^[4] In 2023, Rodriguez solidified his breakthrough status with back-to-back victories over ranked contenders. On February 25, he defeated Joseph Adorno by majority decision (95-93, 95-93, 94-94) over 10 rounds on Showtime, dropping Adorno twice in a gritty affair that highlighted Rodriguez's resilience and pressure fighting.^[14][15] Five months later, on July 15, he achieved his most significant win to date by stopping former WBC super lightweight champion Viktor Postol via seventh-round TKO at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, flooring the Ukrainian veteran in the sixth round en route to the halt.^[16] This triumph over the 33-3 Postol boosted Rodriguez to 15-1-1 (12 KOs) and ranked him among the top super lightweights, signaling his readiness for world title contention.^[1][4] Rodriguez's title pursuits intensified in 2024 and 2025 with wins over Jino Rodrigo (unanimous decision, June 29, 2024) and Kendo Castaneda (unanimous decision, September 27, 2024), maintaining his streak and climbing rankings.^[4] These set the stage for a high-stakes clash against undefeated Lindolfo Delgado on April 5, 2025, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, a WBC super lightweight title eliminator.^[17] Despite a competitive bout, Rodriguez fell short by majority decision (96-94, 96-94, 95-95), handing him his second loss at 17-2-1 but affirming his status as an elite contender.^[18][19] He rebounded quickly with a second-round knockout of Alejandro Frias Rodriguez on October 18, 2025, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, extending his post-Delgado recovery.^[4][20]

Recent developments and challenges

Rodriguez rejoined promotional giant Top Rank in May 2024 after nearly three years with Premier Boxing Champions, marking a significant career development aimed at accelerating his path toward title contention.^[21] He made his return on June 29, 2024, defeating Jino Rodrigo by unanimous decision (98-92, 97-93, 96-94) at the James L. Knight Center in Miami, Florida, in a thrilling fight where he overcame a near-knockdown to rally back.^[4] This was followed by another unanimous decision win over Kendo Castaneda on September 27, 2024, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden (100-90, 100-90, 99-91), in a high-action encounter that tested his durability.^[22] A major challenge came on April 5, 2025, when Rodriguez faced undefeated prospect Lindolfo Delgado in a 10-round junior welterweight bout at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, serving as co-feature to a heavyweight showdown.^[23] Delgado won by majority decision (96-94, 96-94, 95-95), handing Rodriguez his second professional loss and exposing vulnerabilities in his defensive game against a precise counterpuncher.^[4] Rodriguez responded swiftly, stopping Alejandro Frias Rodriguez in the second round on October 18, 2025, at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, to notch his 18th win and regain momentum ahead of potential 2026 opportunities.^[4] This loss to Delgado remains a key hurdle, prompting discussions about refining his strategy for elite competition.^[24]

Fighting style and record

Boxing style and attributes

Elvis Rodriguez fights from a southpaw stance, favoring his left hand as the primary power punch, which allows him to deliver a hard straight left that has concussed opponents in previous bouts.^[1][25] His overall style is aggressive and power-oriented, characterized by explosive combinations that have resulted in 14 knockouts across his 18 professional wins, yielding a knockout ratio of approximately 78%.^[1][4] This approach emphasizes finishing ability, as demonstrated in early career stoppages like his four consecutive knockouts during the 2020 Top Rank MGM Las Vegas Bubble series.^[25] Rodriguez's technique blends power with precision, enabling him to target opponents effectively at mid-range and inside distances—a versatility uncommon among young power punchers.^[25] His right hook serves as a potent secondary weapon to complement the straight left, contributing to his reputation as one of boxing's more exciting prospects at 140 pounds.^[25][26] Physically, he stands at 5 feet 10 inches with a 71-inch reach, providing solid leverage for his punching power while training under renowned coach Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Gym has refined his aggressive fundamentals.^[1][24] However, Rodriguez's style has shown vulnerabilities, including inconsistent use of the jab, limited body punching, and suboptimal head movement, which have been exploited by more technical boxers in setbacks like his 2021 majority decision loss to Kenneth Sims Jr.^[25] Despite these areas, his resilience and knockout prowess continue to define him as a high-impact fighter in the super lightweight division.^[4]

Professional boxing record

Elvis Rodriguez turned professional in 2018 and, as of November 2025, holds a record of 18 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, with 14 of his victories coming by knockout (78% knockout ratio).^[1] His career spans 21 bouts over 106 rounds, primarily in the super lightweight division, where he is ranked No. 21 worldwide.^[1] Rodriguez's record reflects a solid start with early knockouts, a technical draw in 2019, and competitive decisions against ranked opponents, though he has faced setbacks in high-profile matchups.^[27] Key milestones include his professional debut victory by unanimous decision and subsequent stoppages that built his reputation for power punching. His first defeat came via majority decision in an 8-round bout, marking his initial challenge against undefeated opposition. The draw occurred due to a technical stoppage from a cut. Recent fights highlight resilience, with a title opportunity loss and a rebound knockout.^[4][1]