Edelweiss Rodriguez

Edelweiss Rodriguez was an Italian boxer. Italian amateur champion in 1929-30, and third at the 1930 European Championships, he made it to the quarter-finals at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. Rodriguez was capped 25 times for Italy. He turned pro in March 1933, fighting as a flyweight initially, but switched to bantamweight and became Italian Champion in October 1934, defeating Alfredo Magnolfi. He lost that title a few months later to Gino Cattaneo, but again challenged for the crown in August 1937, although unsuccessfully, against Giuliano Secchi. From 1938-40 Rodriguez fought in Ethiopia and what is now Eritrea.

Rodriguez left boxing during World War II but returned in January 1947 for a final bout, defeating Lorenzo Dani by decision. In his professional career Rodriguez had 23 wins, 8 losses, 3 draws, and 1 no contest. His son, Edelweiss Rodriguez Junior, known as “Pupo”, also became a boxer briefly, but then served the sport as a referee.