WENDY RODRIGUEZ

18-4-3 (3 KOs)
Age: 29
Born: January 1, 1979
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
IBA Junior Flyweight Champion
(Photo: J & P Photography)

The diminutive Wendy Rodriguez is certainly testimony to the old statement about good things coming in small packages. Rodriguez may stand only 4’ 11” but she packs a solid punch and already has captured three titles.

The stylish boxer compensates for her lack of size by frustrating her opponents with slick moves and tremendous boxing skills.

Wendy only had six amateur matches, including a win by four-round decision against Canadian National silver medalist Tracey Stevens, before turning pro on May 14, 1999, winning a four-round decision versus Lisa Butler at the Pechanga Center in Temecula, California. Rodriguez lost her third fight to Yvonne Caples and then fought a 10-round draw with Amissa Zamarron for the IBA light flyweight title.

Two fights later, Wendy fought another 10-round draw, this time against undefeated Margaret Sidorof (8-0) at Miccosukee Resort in Miami. Wendy went 5-0-1 in her next six bouts, and in 2003, she captured the vacant IFBA light flyweight championship via a 10-round decision over Anastasia Toktaulova. Two fights later in a rematch against Zamarron, Rodriguez won a convincing 10-round decision (96=94, 97-93, 98-92) for the NABA light flyweight belt.

Rodriguez made successful back-to-back NABA title defenses, 10-round decisions versus Yahaira Martinez (98-92, 97-93, 96-94) and Zamarron (99-91, 99-91, 99-91) in a near shutout, and came back to avenge her earlier loss to Caples by eight-round decision (80-72, 77-75, 79-73) in Reno.

In a 2006 battle against highly-regarded Carina Moreno for the vacant IBA junior flyweight crown, Rodriguez suffered a serious cut in the fourth round over her right eye from an accidental head butt, and Wendy was awarded a win by technical decision when she couldn’t continue after six rounds.

Rodriguez next lost a showdown to Hollie Dunaway by eight-round decision in Missouri. Wendy then hit the road and stopped Albena Atseva in the fourth round of their 2007 fight in France, followed by a loss in her last fight (July 28, 2007) by 10-round decision to German legend Regina Halmich (52-1-1) for the WIBF flyweight title in Germany.