Your Friends & Neighbors

Packing a Punch

A young star boxer from Hasbrouck Heights reveals his life in and out of the ring.

RODRIGUEZ JULIAN OF COURTESY PHOTO

Did you know that in a Harris poll just this year, boxing was voted America’s fourth favorite sport? Once thought to be in decline, this pugilistic pursuit has had a recent renaissance—partly because of its rich crop of upand-coming professionals.

In this corner, then, is Hasbrouck Heights’ Julian “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez, a 2013 Golden Gloves national amateur champion who has amassed a 21-1 record since turning pro at age 19. Rodriguez, who will turn 28 on Oct. 28, does plenty of promoting as well as boxing—he helped Abella Boxing Promotions organize this summer’s Bergen County Fight Night 2 at American Dream. His match was canceled that night (his opponent was unable to participate), but the fighter took a moment to share thoughts.

How old were you when you got into boxing?

My dad, Alex, started bringing me to the gym when I was 7 because my mother was taking skin-care classes after school and couldn’t watch me. So I was going into this sweaty, hot gym in North Bergen and was doing [World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler] Rey Mysterio moves everywhere. My dad said, “Hey, man, if you’re going to get in the ring, do the real stuff—not that WWE stuff.” He stopped boxing to train me, and we both grew within the sport.

Boxing is a dangerous sport. Are you ever scared of seriously hurting your opponent or vice versa?

That’s not really a thought of mine. I always try to think about what drives me, which is my family. I hope to keep progressing in this sport and creating a stable environment for my family.

Did you model your boxing style after other fighters?

I take what I like from different fighters and then try to implement that in my own style. I’ll draw from and get inspired by Canelo Alvarez or [former champions] Manny Pacquiao or Oscar De La Hoya. I was actually the sparring partner for Pacquiao, so I understand a lot of the things he does in the ring. [But] I feel I bring my own little style.

The average boxer doesn’t help Pacquiao train for fights. How different is it to be a sparring partner?

I was 18 the first time I trained with Pacquiao, so it was just a matter of soaking in everything and really bouncing off each other’s energy. He was very helpful, and it wasn’t just sparring. He took me into his home; he took me running with him in the mornings. I ate with his family, and it was a great environment.

You had more than 230 amateur fights before you debuted as a professional. How did the amateur fights prepare you?

It depends how you look at it. In terms of my physicality, one could say that maybe I enjoyed myself too much. On the other hand, I gained so much experience: I’ve competed all over the world and pretty much in every state against the best opponents. There’s not a style that I haven’t seen. While I was in the amateurs, 12 to 13 years old, I had already started sparring with pros, so I adopted more of a pro style. That let me turn pro early, because a lot of the bigger companies took a liking to me and my style.

What is your life like outside the ring?

I’m into the arts. I play instruments and go to museums. I have two children [9-year-old son Jaiden and 4-year-old daughter Phoenix] and I enjoy exposing them to new things. I’m into history and a lot of other things the “average boxer” might not be into.

You’re interested in music, and you produce and write some of your own material, right?

The two really mesh well. I write my music at nighttime when I’m tired from the gym, and doing so keeps me at home. I have a studio in my place, so it’s just another way of exerting my energy.

Where do you see your career in the near future?

I’m in line to sign with PBC [Premier Boxing Champions] and [manager] Al Haymon, and those are the top guys in the U.S. They’re behind all the Showtime fights, and all the American superstars are with PBC. That’s where I feel like I belong. And the sky’s the limit once I sign that contract.