Joseph “Blessed Hands” Adorno (16-1-2, 14 KOs), a former amateur standout with one-punch knockout power, and undefeated Argentine prospect Hugo Alberto Roldan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) both made weight at Thursday’s official weigh-in a day ahead of their 10-round super lightweight main event on SHOBOX: The New Generation tomorrow night, Friday, September 9 live on SHOWTIME as the prospect developmental series returns to Bally’s Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, the site of the first SHOBOX® on July 21, 2001.
The co-feature matches undefeated Filipino prospect Bernard Angelo Torres (16-0, 7 KOs) against Dominican Frency Fortunato (13-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round featherweight attraction. The telecast opens with SHOBOX returnee Janelson Bocachica (17-0-1, 11 KOs) taking on knockout artist Roiman Villa (24-1, 24 KOs) in an eight-round welterweight battle.
FINAL WEIGHTS
Super Lightweight 10-Round Bout
Joseph Adorno – 139 ½ lbs.
Hugo Alberto Roldan – 140 lbs.
Featherweight 10-Round Bout
Bernard Angelo Torres – 125 ½ lbs.
Frency Fortunato – 126 ½ lbs.
Welterweight Eight-Round Bout
Janelson Bocachica – 147 lbs.
Roiman Villa – 146 lbs.
Here are quotes from the main event fighters:
Joseph Adorno
“I was at home laying down just chilling with my kids when I got a call from my trainer ‘Chino’ [Raul Rivas] asking me if I would take this fight. You know me, I’ll take any fight. Whatever ‘Chino’ said, I’ll go with him. Ever since he came into my life, I let him guide me. He said we’re going to beat this guy, and that’s all it took. I got up, went for a jog and the next day I was training.
“I’ve only seen a few seconds of Roldan. I don’t like watching too much tape of my opponents because the way they fought in that fight doesn’t mean they’re going to fight the same way with me. I don’t want to put something in my mind that may not happen. ‘Chino’ works on the game plan and we’re just hoping for a good fight.
“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.
“I learned a lot in that fight against [Michel] Rivera. 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.”
Hugo Alberto Roldan
“I do think Adorno is a tougher fighter than the first opponent I was supposed to face [Shinard Bunch]. 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.
“In terms of coming to the sport late, I’m a very confident person. I’m a hard worker and I have confidence in my abilities. I really see that as an advantage. Being from where I’m from, Sergio Martinez is certainly an inspiration when I was coming up, since he also took up boxing late and has been able to accomplish so much so he’s definitely an inspiration to me.
“When I fight, I’m always looking for the knockout. I train for the knockout so that’s what I try to make happen.
“My last fight I had to get up twice off the canvas, but it was a learning experience and it helped me to see things that I can do better for future fights, that I can change. I went back to Argentina, and I trained to improve myself, the things I did wrong or could have done better, technical things.
“I know my opponent is a good puncher, but I also love to fight, and I will follow my strategy and adapt to what the fighter in front of me is doing. I will work around whatever becomes available in the course of the fight.
“Being in camp with the Fundoras has been a great experience and taught me a lot and helped me grow as a fighter and improve.
“It means a lot for me to be debuting in the United States. I’ve worked very hard and sacrificed a lot to be here. I’ve come a long way and I want to continue having more of these big fights in the U.S., against fighters who are established to make myself better as a fighter.”
Photos: Photos; Stephanie Trapp/SHOWTIME
