Tony Chiaverini vs. Rafael Rodriguez
Rafael Rodriguez 155 lbs lost to Tony Chiaverini 155 lbs by UD in round 10 of 10
"North American junior middleweight champion Tony Chiaverini continued his quest Sunday afternoon for a long coveted world title fight with a unanimous decision over Rafael Rodriguez. Chiaverini outclassed the tough Rodriguez from St. Paul, Minn., in a 10-round co-main event at Municipal Auditorium. Chiaverini of Shawnee, Kan., floored Rodriguez with a sharp left jab with 90 seconds left in the opening round and never lost control. Rodriguez' only flurry came in the 6th round when Chiaverini walked into a stinging left hook that cut the inside of his mouth. But Chiaverini quickly resumed superiority. From round seven he staggered Rodriguez several times, but the welterweight never fell." -The Independence Examiner
Scorecards (all for Chiaverini)
- 99-94
- 100-94
- 99-93
- The UPI - although not disclosing a point total - stated that Chiaverini only lost one round on their unofficial card.
- The co-main event on this card was Aaron Pryor v Leonidas Asprilla
Post-fight comments
- "I won the fight. He knocked me down but I took control of that first round and then the whole fight. It wasn't a good decision." -Rafael Rodriguez
- "We expected scoring like this. We came to fight but if we went the distance and had gotten a draw, we'd have been happy. But we got robbed. If Rodriguez fought him again he'd knock him out." -Ron Peterson, Rodriguez' manager
- "I beat him decisively. I thought I was in the lead the entire way. My corner told me not to let that guy set the pattern and I didn't. It was my fight. He had to fight my fight and I beat him." -Tony Chiaverini