
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994                   TAG: 9408300047
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Staff report
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

RODRIGUEZ RETAINS WELTERWEIGHT CROWN

BUSHKILL, Pa. - Jake Rodriguez stopped George Scott of Sweden after nine of a scheduled 12 rounds to retain his IBF junior welterweight boxing championship at the Fernwood Resort in the Poconos.

Rodriguez, 26-2-2 with seven knockouts, outpointed Scott in almost every round. The fight ended when Scott failed to answer the bell at the start of the 10th round.

Rodriguez's assault paid off in the eighth round when a sweeping left hook dropped the Swede and another almost put him down again near the end of the round.

In the ninth, Rodriguez battered Scott for most of the three minutes. Between rounds, referee Tony Wolfe stopped it as the bloodied Scott sat on his stool.

By the fourth round Rodriguez was in control of the match.

Scott fell to 23-1 with 11 knockouts.

It was the second successful title defense for Rodriguez, who won the crown by decisioning Charles Murray on Feb. 13.

by CNB