This is the third time I've shot ringside the whole night. I love covering action, but I'll be honest and say I'd rather be covering behind-the-scenes. Covering BTS gives me the opportunity to try to tell at least one story of an athlete on fight night. I'm a photojournalist at heart. So for this post I couldn't help but interweave the photos I captured of the undercard that night into a short essay, if you will. From walking to the ring, some action, boxer's corner, a taunt, a war, a knockdown, a defeat, a victory and finally to a celebration.
Jesse Rodriguez ahead of his bout versus Cristian Gonzalez in San Antonio, Texas.
Boxing: Rodriguez vs Gonzalez Portrait DayApril 5, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Portrait session with Jesse Rodriguez. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jesse Rodriguez Training SessionApril 4, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jesse Rodriguez trains ahead of his fight versus Cristian Gonzalez on April 8th at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jesse Rodriguez Visits TelemundoApril 4, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jesse Rodriguez is interviewed by Jhannet Sanchez on Telemundo ahead of his April 8th fight versus Cristian Gonzalez at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Jesse Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez pose at the Alamo on Monday, April 3, 2023.
Boxing: Jesse Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Face-Off at The AlamoApril 3, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jesse Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez pose at The Alamo ahead of their April 8th fight at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Jesse Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez face-off after their final press conference
on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Boxing: Rodriguez vs Gonzalez Final Press ConferenceApril 6, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jesse Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez pose at the final press conference ahead of the April 8, 2023 Matchroom Boxing card at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Raymond Ford and Jessie Magdaleno face-off after their final press conference
on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Boxing: Rodriguez vs Gonzalez Final Press ConferenceApril 6, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Raymond Ford and Jessie Magdaleno pose at the final press conference ahead of the April 8, 2023 Matchroom Boxing card at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Jesus "Panterita" Martinez walks to the ring for his bout versus Jose Lopez
at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jesus Martinez walks to the ring for his bout Jose Lopez against at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Raymond Ford versus Jessie Magdaleno
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Raymond Ford and Jessie Magdaleno during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Raymond Ford gets advice from his corner during his bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Thomas Mattice versus Ramiro Cesena
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Thomas Mattice and Ramiro Cesena during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Murodjon Akhmadaliev versus Marlon Tapales
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Murodjon Akhmadaliev and Marlon Tapales during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Khalil Coe versus James Quiter
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Khalil Coe and James Quiter during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Ramiro Cesena after his bout with Thomas Mattice bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Marc Castro versus Ricardo Lopez
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Marc Castro and Ricardo Lopez during their bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Israil Madrimov after his win over Raphael Igbokwe.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Israil Madrimov celebrates his win over Raphael Igbokwe at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Raymond Ford celebrates his win over Jessie Magdaleno at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Jesse Rodriguez versus Cristian Gonzalez
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jessie Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez during their main event bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
An outtake I had to include.
To get the promoter, Matchroom, and streamer, DAZN,
with something (anything really) in between the ropes was intentional.
With some luck and a little talent I was able to capture this action between them.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jessie Rodriguez and Cristian Gonzalez during their main event bout at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jessie Rodriguez speaks with Chris Mannix after his win over Cristian Gonzalez at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.
Boxing: Jessie Rodriguez vs Cristian Gonzalez Fight NightApril 8, 2023; San Antonio, TX, USA; Jessie Rodriguez relaxes in his dressing room after his win over Cristian Gonzalez at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Melina Pizano/Matchroom.