Mexican boxer, 37, is found dead in his hotel room just hours after losing fight as 'confused' wife speaks out and his opponent says he is 'truly heartbroken'
Pedro Antonio 'Tony' Rodriguez fought Phillip Vela in Phoenix, Arizona, at the weekend, with the clash billed as the 'Brawl in the Barrio'.
Commissioned by the Arizona Boxing and MMA Commission and organised by Del Sol Boxing Promotions, 37-year-old Rodriguez was the underdog in the fight as he came up against a younger, undefeated star.
Vela, 21, nicknamed the in City Sicilian, was 3-0 before the fight and extended his record to 4-0, winning via unanimous decision after six rounds.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, had 45 matches in his career, winning 15 of them and losing 26. He debuted in 2007, enduring 208 rounds in total.
According to Marca, however, the star returned to his hotel room after the fight and arranged to go out for dinner, but was found to have died on Sunday morning when hotel staff entered his room.
It is reported by Marca that Rodriguez did not make it for dinner, and staff entered his room when he failed to turn up for transport that had arrived to take him to the airport.
No official cause of death has yet been given, with police investigating the reasons - it has not been established whether the incident had any connection to the fight.
Rodriguez's wife has spoken out on the death of her husband, who worked for the Mexican Social Security Institute.
Suggesting the fight could have been to blame, 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.
'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.
'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.'
Vela, meanwhile, posted on social media: '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.'
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Del Sol Boxing Promotions (@delsolboxing)
Vela took to social media to pay his respects to his opponent after the news broke out
Del Sol Boxing Promotions added: '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.'
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