But just like their dad, they fight through the tough times and come out the other side with smiles on their faces. was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and Serena Lynn has undergone surgery for paralyzed vocal chords. and Serena Lynn are now at home, and Edwin says they are enjoying a happy life. "If I had an opportunity to do it over again, I would pick my kids any day of the week."Įdwin Jr. "And I'm one of those persons that I work hard for what I want, and I wanted to be an Olympian, and for certain reasons it didn't happen. "It was something that I worked so hard to accomplish," Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said that period was the toughest of his life, and he admits to being "bitter" watching the Olympics that year, but he said he wouldn't change one single thing. … I don't think that anybody's head would've been in the game with that type of situation." … He didn't do what he could've done because his head wasn't in the game. "These are decisions that are tough for anybody at any age," Army said, "but you put a 21-year-old young man into those decisions, and it becomes overwhelming. "He had to deal with the questions," Army said, "like 'Do you take the children off life support? Do you continue to keep them on life support the chances are that they'll have a life full of health issues?'"Īccording to Army, Edwin didn't fare well in the Olympic trials because he and his wife were dealing with these issues with their young children. Edwin and Stephanie were faced with questions that no one should have to answer, especially new parents.Įdwin's manager and friend, Larry Army, said he feels most people wouldn't have been able to handle the situation as well as the young couple did. They were not in good health and had to be kept on life support. Then, in November of 2006, his fiancee, Stephanie Rapa, gave birth to twins, Edwin Jr. He seemed be on the same Olympic path as his fellow New Englanders O'Connor and Andrade. Nationals that same year and the National Golden Gloves tournament in 2006. But as difficult as it was, he says he wouldn't change it for anything.įollowing the Lowell tournament, Rodriguez went on to win several national tournaments, including the U.S. He is now a pro with a 9-0, seven-KO record, and has several national television appearances under his belt.Įven though I follow boxing pretty closely, I seemed to lose track, though, of Rodriguez, a smiley kid from Worcester who seemed so excited about the chance to go to the nationals.īut when I finally caught up Rodriguez, I found out that between that Golden Gloves tournament and our latest meeting, it had been a long and bumpy road for the now 25-year-old fighter. He's now 10-0 with three knockouts and is headlining his first card Friday night at Twin River Casino in Rhode island.Īndrade was a medal hopeful in Beijing, but he bowed out of the Games unexpectedly. O'Connor went on to become an Olympic alternate at the Beijing Olympics and later turned pro in Manchester, N.H. Because of their boxing skills, personality and potential, I kept an eye on their careers. Danny O'Connor, Demetrius Andrade and Edwin Rodriguez were just three of the many boxers I spoke to that night. I documented the Lowell Golden Gloves tournament at Lowell Memorial Auditorium in 2005 and had the privilege of meeting a few promising athletes.
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