Joseph Adorno has opportunity to make statement on ShoBox
Joseph Adorno will have his best chance Friday to show that he’s better than he demonstrated in his only loss this past March.
Adorno, who was outpointed by talented lightweight contender Michel Rivera, will face Hugo Alberto Roldan in a scheduled 10-round junior welterweight “ShoBox: The New Generation” bout at Bally’s Event Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey (Showtime).
The one-time amateur standout was a late replacement for Shinard Bunch, who pulled out of the fight with Roldan for personal reasons.
“This fight is definitely an opportunity to reset my career a bit. After the loss, I look at this as my get-back. I’m determined to make up for what happened on that night. I’m extremely happy that I got the call and I can’t wait for the bell to ring.
“I’m so excited for this fight I don’t even know how to explain it.”
The setback against Rivera was only the last leg of a rough stretch for Adorno (16-1-2, 14 KOs) beginning in 2020, in which he failed to win in three consecutive fights.
He drew with Hector Garcia Montes in January 2020 and then did the same against the unbeaten Jamaine Ortiz in April of last year before Rivera defeated him by a one-sided decision (97-93 on all three cards) on Showtime.
Adorno bounced back from the Rivera loss to stop journeymen Juan Santiago and Roberto Almazan Monreal in scheduled six-rounders in May and July, respectively.
“I learned a lot in that fight against Rivera,” said Adorno, who weighed in Thursday at 139.5 pounds. “I learned that I need to be a little bit more active. I learned that the undefeated record isn’t everything. Everybody wants to protect it, so you want to fight to protect that ‘0’. But I think I needed that loss.
“I needed that loss to focus more and learn that you’re not going to be perfect at all times so you have to keep working hard. The harder you work, the better you get. Before that loss, I thought I was unbeatable. It helped me. It opened up my eyes a lot. I’m thankful for that loss. It woke me up and is the reason I’m working the way I am now.”
Meanwhile, Roldan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) has the biggest opportunity to show what he can do a large stage.
The Argentine has won four consecutive fights since drawing with countryman Agustin Gerbaldo Kucharski in December 2019. The fight on Friday will be in his first in the United States.
“I do think Adorno is a tougher fighter than the first opponent I was supposed to face,” said Roldan who weighed the division limit of 140. “But it’s also a good opportunity to show everyone what I can do against a fighter of this caliber.
“I have come so far in my career that I’m so happy for this opportunity and I really appreciate the chance to show what I can do. I haven’t thought about the future and what’s next, but I want to keep moving forward and keep advancing.”
