Overview

• Rodriguez was found unresponsive in his Phoenix hotel room on July 6, hours after losing a unanimous decision to Phillip Vela at the Brawl in the Barrio event.
• Local authorities have launched a formal investigation into his death with no official cause yet released.
• His wife, Karla Valenzuela, has voiced confusion over whether a fight-related blow may have led to his passing and is awaiting the medical examiner’s report.
• Phillip Vela and Del Sol Boxing Promotions have issued tributes urging respect for the inquiry and sending condolences to Rodriguez’s family.
• Rodriguez returned to the ring in 2025 after a six-year hiatus, compiling a 15-26-3 record over an 18-year career while also working for the Mexican Social Security Institute.