Pedro Antonio Rodriguez dies aged 37: Boxer found dead in hotel room just hours after loss with rival ‘truly devastated'
The Mexcian super-bantamweight fighter was beaten by Phillip Vella in a bout in the US on Saturday evening.
1
Pedro Antonio 'Tony' Rodriguez was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday morning
Rodriguez, born in Durango,
Mexico
, fought in
Phoenix, Arizona
, over the weekend at the American Royal Palace.
T
he clash, titled the 'Brawl in the Barrio,' was commissioned by the Arizona
Boxin
g and
MMA
Commission and organised by Del Sol
Boxing
Promotions.
Rodrigue,
who worked at the Mexican
Social Security
Institute (IMSS),
lost by unanimous decision after six rounds.
According to
Marca
, Rodriguez returned to his hotel room after the fight and had arranged to go out to dinner with other fighters from the card.
READ MORE BOXING NEWS
But he never arrived at the hotel lobby that night.
He was discovered having tragically passed away on Sunday morning when hotel staff entered his room.
Staff members were prompted to enter after he wasn't present when
transport
arrived to take him to the airport.
Police
are currently investigating the reasons for his passing, which are unclear.
Most read in Boxing
His wife Karla Valenzuea has bravely opened up about her husband's tragic passing.
She said: "He called me when his fight ended. Even when the show was over and he left for the hotel, he talked to me, he made a video call.
"I don't know what really happened: some kind of blow. I don't know what happened. I am also confused. We have to wait until tomorrow to see what the report says.
"He told me that he was going out to buy dinner and that he was coming back because at 3:30 in the morning, they were going to pick them up to take them to the airport, that was the only thing I talked to him about."
Arizona authorities have not issued an official report on the cause of death and there is no established connection to the fight or any pre-existing medical condition.
Vela, who fought Rodriguez just hours before his death, took to
to post a touching tribute to the boxer.
It read:
"Truly heartbroken to find out this
news
.
"Thankful to have shared the ring with
Pedro
for six rounds. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest easy, champion."
Del Sol
Boxing
Promotions also paid their respects to Rodriguez, posting: "The Del Sol Boxing family is heartbroken at the death of
Pedro
Antonio Rodriguez.
"Our
hearts
and thoughts are with his loved ones. Out of respect for his family, please join us in waiting for the local authorities to complete their work and
investigation
."
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video
.
Like us on Facebook at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Pedro Antonio Rodriguez dies aged 37: Boxer found dead in hotel room just hours after loss with rival ‘truly devastated'
BOXER Pedro Antonio 'Tony' Rodriguez was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday morning aged 37. The Mexcian super-bantamweight fighter was beaten by Phillip Vella in a bout in the US on Saturday evening. 1 Pedro Antonio 'Tony' Rodriguez was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday morning Rodriguez, born in Durango, Mexico , fought in Phoenix, Arizona , over the weekend at the American Royal Palace. T he clash, titled the 'Brawl in the Barrio,' was commissioned by the Arizona Boxin g and MMA Commission and organised by Del Sol Boxing Promotions. Rodrigue, who worked at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), lost by unanimous decision after six rounds. According to Marca , Rodriguez returned to his hotel room after the fight and had arranged to go out to dinner with other fighters from the card. READ MORE BOXING NEWS But he never arrived at the hotel lobby that night. He was discovered having tragically passed away on Sunday morning when hotel staff entered his room. Staff members were prompted to enter after he wasn't present when transport arrived to take him to the airport. Police are currently investigating the reasons for his passing, which are unclear. Most read in Boxing His wife Karla Valenzuea has bravely opened up about her husband's tragic passing. She said: "He called me when his fight ended. Even when the show was over and he left for the hotel, he talked to me, he made a video call. "I don't know what really happened: some kind of blow. I don't know what happened. I am also confused. We have to wait until tomorrow to see what the report says. "He told me that he was going out to buy dinner and that he was coming back because at 3:30 in the morning, they were going to pick them up to take them to the airport, that was the only thing I talked to him about." Arizona authorities have not issued an official report on the cause of death and there is no established connection to the fight or any pre-existing medical condition. Vela, who fought Rodriguez just hours before his death, took to Instagram to post a touching tribute to the boxer. It read: "Truly heartbroken to find out this news . "Thankful to have shared the ring with Pedro for six rounds. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. Rest easy, champion." Del Sol Boxing Promotions also paid their respects to Rodriguez, posting: "The Del Sol Boxing family is heartbroken at the death of Pedro Antonio Rodriguez. "Our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones. Out of respect for his family, please join us in waiting for the local authorities to complete their work and investigation ." THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video . Like us on Facebook at
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Israeli embassy gunman Elias Rodriguez faces death penalty after ‘firing 21 shots & reloading as victims crawled away'
THE man suspected of shooting dead two Israeli embassy officials in Washington fired 21 shots and reloaded as his wounded victims crawled away, according to court documents. Elias Rodriguez, 31, 9 The chilling moment suspected Israeli embassy shooter Elias Rodriguez screams 'free Palestine' after gunning down a young couple Credit: X/PhoenixTV 9 Israeli embassy victimsYaron Lischinsky Sarah Milgrim Credit: Family Handout 9 Mourners lights candles during a vigil outside of the White House to remember the pair Credit: Getty 9 The Chicago native was caught on camera unloading several rounds into Yaron Lischinsky, 28, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, after pacing outside the Capital Jewish Museum, according to the arrest affidavit. The pair collapsed after being shot but the gunman continued his onslaught, the document says. Footage shows him looming over the couple, already ragged by bullets, and firing at them again, charging documents show. Rodriguez allegedly then pursued Milgrim as she tried to escape and finished her off. read more on the shooting He was seen reloading his weapon before again opening fire at the desperate woman. Rodriguez unloaded at least 21 shots during the cold-blooded slaughter, according to police sources, using a high-end German-design H&K 9mm pistol, reports It's unclear how many times each victim was shot. Most read in The US Sun He had been ushered inside alongside civilians in the confusion following the shooting. The suspect Washington on Thursday facing charges of murder of foreign officials - while prosecutors say additional charges are likely. Israeli embassy worker couple shot dead outside Jewish museum in Washington DC by gunman chanting 'Free Palestine' He was not handcuffed and nodded along while the judge read him the charges, the MailOnline has reported. Interim US Attorney for the District of Washington Jeanine Pirro, who is leading the prosecution, has said it is "far too early" to say if the death penalty will be sought. However, she added that this is a "death penalty eligible case". Heartbreaking details about the victims have emerged in the wake of the tragedy. 9 The couple were about to visit Jerusalem, where Lischinsky planned to propose Credit: AP 9 A court sketch of Rodriguez appearing to hear his charges Credit: Reuters 9 Emergency workers outside the museum just after the shooting Credit: EPA The pair were reportedly madly in love, and Lischinsky had secretly bought an engagement ring just days earlier. He had planned to propose on a vacation to Jerusalem, where they planned to travel on Sunday to see Lischinsky's family who live there. She never found out that her boyfriend of a year and a half was planning to propose. Milgrim and Lischinsky, who were both Jewish, were working for the Israeli Embassy when they were killed. He helped plan missions for Jewish people in America, and Lischinsky was a research assistant. Milgrim's heartbroken parents have opened up about their love for Lischinsky as they described him as an "incredible" man who was devoted to their daughter. 9 Another view of the candlelight vigil outside the White House Credit: AFP 9 Messages of grief laid to remember the couple Credit: Alamy "He was very much like Sarah: passionate, extremely intelligent, dedicated to what he does, always on the cause of what's right," her dad Robert told the Tal Naim Cohen, a spokesperson for the Israeli Embassy, mourned the loss of the couple and described seeing their affection for one another just hours before their deaths. "Yaron and Sarah, words cannot begin to describe the heartbreak and sorrow," she wrote on X. "Just this morning , we were still laughing together by the coffee corner - and now, all that remains is a picture. "Instead of walking you down the aisle, we are walking with you to your graves. What an unbearable loss." In a statement released by the Embassy, the two were described as being in the "prime of their lives." "The entire embassy staff is heartbroken and devastated by their murder," the statement said. "No words can express the depth of our grief and horror at this devastating loss. Our hearts are with their families, and the embassy will be by their side during this terrible time." Who is Elias Rodriguez? ELIAS Rodriguez is the man accused of killing the two Israeli embassy staff in Washington outside the Capital Jewish Museum. He is understood to have been a far-left activist who was fairly well-known in Washington's protest scene. Resurfaced images appear to show Rodriguez at pro-Gaza demonstrations in the past. Social media posts also claim he is affiliated with the Party for Socialism & Liberation in the US which is seen as far-left. The group confirmed in a post on X that Rodriguez had a "brief association" with them. The group added that Rodriguez was not a member and that his activism with them ended in 2017. A spokesperson said: 'We reject any attempt to associate the PSL with the DC shooting. Elias Rodriguez is not a member of the PSL. We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it.'
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- RTÉ News
Suspect in Israeli embassy staff shooting charged with murder
The lone suspect in the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy employees in Washington has been with two counts of first-degree murder. Elias Rodriguez, 31, is accused of opening fire on a group of people on Wednesday night as they left an event for young professionals and diplomats hosted by the American Jewish Committee, an advocacy group that fights anti-Semitism and supports Israel. Mr Rodriguez told police on the scene, "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza," according to the charging documents. Witnesses recounted hearing him chant, "Free Palestine" after he was taken into custody. The two victims were identified as Yaron Lischinsky, 30, and 26-year-old Sarah Lynn Milgrim, 26, who were about to become engaged to be married. After the shooting, Israeli embassies around the world immediately stepped up security. In addition to two counts of first-degree murder, Mr Rodriguez was charged in a six-page criminal complaint with murder of foreign officials, causing death with a firearm and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. Interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, newly appointed by President Donald Trump as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, said at a news briefing the complaint against Mr Rodriguez constitutes a "death penalty-eligible case." "We are going to continue to investigate this as a hate crime and as a crime of terrorism," Ms Pirro told reporters. US Attorney General Pam Bondi said earlier that the suspect was believed to have acted alone. At his first appearance in court yesterday, Mr Rodriguez waived his right to a detention hearing, and a preliminary hearing in the case was set for 18 June. He said little during the proceeding except to answer, "I do" to questions from a federal magistrate judge about whether he understood his rights. The charges were filed as FBI and police investigators pored over apparent writings and political affiliations of the suspect. According to the FBI affidavit, the suspect flew to the Washington area from Chicago on Tuesday. On Wednesday night, he was seen pacing outside the museum, little more than 2km from the White House, shortly before the shooting, police said. Surveillance video footage showed Rodriguez firing several times at Mr Lischinsky and Ms Milgrim, then leaning over them to fire several more rounds after they fell to the ground and after Milgrim tried to crawl away and sat up, according to an FBI affidavit in the criminal complaint. The gunman paused to reload, then resumed firing, it said. He then tossed away his gun, retreated into the museum and was arrested there after calling attention to himself as the suspect, pulling out a red Palestinian-style keffiyeh scarf and declaring that he "did it," the affidavit said. Investigators recovered a 9mm handgun that he had purchased in Illinois five years ago, 21 spent shell casings and a firearm magazine at the scene, according to the complaint. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on social media that investigators were "aware of certain writings allegedly authored by the suspect" and hoped to soon have updates regarding their authenticity. Mr Bongino's statement appeared to refer to a manifesto signed with Mr Rodriguez's name that was posted to an anonymous X account on Wednesday night shortly before the shooting. Mr Rodriguez was once involved with a far-left group in Chicago, the Party for Socialism and Liberation, according to a post from the group on X. The group said Mr Rodriguez had a brief association with a PSL branch that ended in 2017 and was unaware of any further contact with him in more than seven years. "We have nothing to do with this shooting and do not support it," the organisation said. Mr Rodriguez was also identified in a 2018 local news report as a member of the Chicago branch of a national group called ANSWER, an acronym for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, which has organised demonstrations in solidarity with Palestinians. At the time of his arrest, Mr Rodriguez worked at the healthcare non-profit American Osteopathic Information Association, the organisation confirmed in a statement expressing sympathy for the victims. He had also worked as an oral history researcher at The History Makers, a non-profit dedicated to preserving African American stories, according to a now-deleted biography on the group's website, and was a content writer for technology firms. Mr Rodriguez was born and raised in Chicago and graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in English. President Trump condemned the shooting. "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!" he said in a message on Truth Social. "Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his heart ached for the families of the victims, "whose lives were cut short in a moment by an abhorrent anti-Semitic murderer." "We are witness to the terrible cost of the anti-Semitism and wild incitement against the State of Israel," he said on X, adding that both "must be fought to the utmost."
