Moises Rodriguez, an 18-year-old standout from El Paso and recent El Dorado High School graduate, battled his way to a silver medal at the USA Boxing National Championships in Lubbock over the weekend, falling just short in the Elite 121-pound final. Rodriguez fought through a loaded bracket before dropping a narrow decision to Hawaii’s Lorenzo Juanito Patricio. The run cements Rodriguez among the nation’s top young amateurs and keeps a potential 2028 Olympic bid very much in play.
According to BoxingScene, Patricio defeated Rodriguez by unanimous decision in the 121-pound final, a result the outlet grouped with several upsets at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. The report notes that winners and runners-up from the tournament will be evaluated at national selection camps, with an elite camp scheduled for Jan. 11 through Feb. 11. Those sessions will help determine which fighters advance into international competition next year.
Path to the final
Rodriguez earned his place in the championship bout with a string of gritty wins, including unanimous 5-0 decisions over Saul Soto, Maximiliano Aguila, and Zahheir Fox, plus a tight 3-2 split-decision victory against Orlando Zamora, the El Paso Times reported. In the final, the judges’ scorecards came back with three 29-28 tallies and two 30-27s. “I learned a great deal,” Rodriguez told the El Paso Times, calling the tournament “a good week” despite the loss.
Golden Gloves past and what’s next…