Junior featherweight Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez passed away on Sunday night but his death will not be in vain. Rodriguez was knocked out by Teon Kennedy in the 10th round of a ferocious fight for a regional title in Philadelphia, Rodriguez died for brain injuries he suffered from the fight.
However, his death will save at least eight people, including his uncle. Rodriguez’s family will be donating multiple organs from the fighter including his kidney that will go to the uncle.
“We just learned that Paco and our uncle are a match,” Alex Rodriguez, Francisco’s brother, said in a statement. “Our uncle has been on the waiting list for a kidney transplant for a long, long time. So although we’ve tragically lost Paco, we’re able to give this incredible gift of life to another family member.”
Rodriguez who was 25 and 14-3-1, with 8 KOs had to be rushed into brain surgery at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia on Friday after the fight, he was never able to regain consciousness and died on Sunday.Rodriguez was born in Mexico but grew up in Chicago and was a five time Golden Gloves Champion, a 2000 National Golden Gloves bronze medalist. In 2004, Rodriguez advanced to the U.S. Olympic trials by outpointing Kennedy.
The family has set up a account to help the family’s large medical expenses. Donation can be made to Francisco Rodriguez Estate fund account #707331062 at an Chase Bank.
There is always one kid on the team that is bigger and better then a lot of other players. Not this kid, he is better then the whole league as the other 6-year-old run around trying to figure out what is going on this kid is laying players out.
Junior featherweight Francisco “Paco” Rodriguez passed away on Sunday night but his death will not be in vain. Rodriguez was knocked out by Teon Kennedy in the 10th round of a ferocious fight for a regional title in Philadelphia, Rodriguez died for brain injuries he suffered from the fight.
