Recognition from the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame
“WBC isn’t a job, it’s a family.” – Nancy Rodriguez
Nancy Rodriguez is a familiar face in boxing circles both locally and internationally.
Always nicely coiffed and stylishly dressed, you will see her at press conferences, live fights, community events, charity functions, boxing workouts, gym openings, hospital visits and more. Her official job titles are Senior Executive Director with the legendary World Boxing Council (WBC) and Senior Executive with Supreme Boxing Media/News Company. And in between those two esteemed titles, Nancy brings her own touch to the sport of boxing–assisting fighters, working with promoters and sponsors, helping kids in need (WBC Cares), and reaching out to others to help make the the fight game better. And while she doesn’t actively seek the limelight, she has become a recognizable presence especially in Southern California boxing groups.
And for her years of dedication, she was recently honored by the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame (NVBHOF). It is an award near and dear to her heart.
On August 17, this South Bay lady received a Special Commendation Award from the famed Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. The nonprofit organization hosted their annual awards show on August 18 and the night before also held a VIP Cocktail Party and Special Awards Presentation at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The 2018 awards went to prizefighters Terence Crawford, Jessie Vargas, Badou Jack, Blair Cobbs, Zach Smith, Curmel Moton and Nancy Rodriguez on the eve of the yearly induction gala. The private fiesta was held in the Augustus Ballroom and was well attended by the 2018 inductees, local champions and out-of-town luminaries.
NVBHOF President and CEO Michelle Corrales-Lewis and NVBHOF Founder Rich Marotta presented the special honors while the WBC’s Mo Noor called Nancy into the ring to accept this surprise award. Her peers responded with a huge round of applause. Those that know her recognize how much she has truly given through the years. She worked in the music business before switching to pugilism and providing public relations and marketing to the fighters. I’ve known her for several years now; I first met Nancy at a Brandon Rios event back in 2012 and immediately hit it off with her.I caught up with this busy chica to hear her thoughts about her winning this award in Vegas.
“How did you feel when your name was first announced?” I asked her.
“I was in complete shock when Mo called my name. I thought someone needed something from me so I was ready to help,” she says. “I really felt someone needed something from me so I went to Mo; they had to repeat my name because I didn’t believe it. Then Michelle Corrales made eye contact with me and gave me that beautiful smile of her and just nodded, ‘Yes, you!’ I was completely shocked.”
“What has your experiences been like working with the NVBHOF?” is my next inquiry.
“I’ve always loved helping the NVBHOF more than anything because of Michelle (Corrales-Lewis). She pours her heart and soul into this great weekend,” Nancy expresses. “She gets nothing out of it, she does it out of love for boxing and love to appreciate fighters. The world should be way more aware of this amazing weekend, it’s one of my favorites of the year!”
“And finally, describe what it’s been like working with the WBC and Supreme Boxing through the years?” I say.
“Supreme Boxing means the world to me; it’s a platform that has helped many fighters grow and many colleagues grow in this beautiful sport. WBC opened doors for me I never imagined,” is her reply. “I’ve learned so much, not only boxing. Boxing is just the platform we can use to try and make a difference in this world, to plant our little seed of hope in this world…the Green Machine Don Jose Sulaiman wanted to build to help our communities.
“Mauricio (Sulaiman) and Jill (Diamond) have given me opportunities I never imagined, they believe in me so much. Pepe (Sulaiman) has taught me peace, patience, to do things whole-heartedly. To disconnect and love ourselves too. WBC isn’t a job, it’s a family.”In Vegas, she helped organize the Annual WBC Amateur Challenge with the NVBHOF at Caesars on August 18 and also orchestrates the Annual Green Belt Challenge in Los Angeles.
Nancy is always in motion. She currently works out of the L.A. WBC office but before that, she was frequently on the go while working in the sweet science. She has traveled around the globe for fights and WBC conventions and in between is also the manager of female slugger and rising fan favorite Maricela “La Diva” Cornejo (fighting Franchon Crews September 13). That is a lot of plates to juggle. A lot of responsibilities and duties always on the horizon for this savvy businesswoman.
But first and foremost, the most important job (and labor of love) for Rodriguez is being a mother to her four children. The Channel Islands High School alum is extremely close to her extended Oxnard family as well. And if you ever run into Nancy at boxing events, it’s not uncommon to see her four young kids with her too, pitching in, and volunteering at events. Her children (with Lalo Rodriguez) are good kids; I’ve never seen them whine or act bratty at events. Nancy puts family first and somehow balances motherhood and her career with finesse. In between school outings, weekend getaways and Disneyland trips with her son and three daughters, she is the perfect example of a multi-tasker.
And while it might seem like the “perfect life,” Nancy is the first one to tell you she got where she is through hard work, sacrifice, and living through both the highs and lows of boxing and surviving the challenging ups and downs of life too.
I relate to her. I think we are all drawn to boxing for it’s imperfections; it’s a punishing, vicious sport but I, too, have always been intrigued by that darker aspect of why people choose the knuckle-and-leather trade.
While Nancy is always on the ball as far as work goes, she also lets people see her more vulnerable, work-in-progress side. Just last week she openly confided to all (in a Lucas Ketelle documentary) that she is part of the #MeToo movement in order to bring awareness to sexual abuse, especially in minors. By revealing her own sexual molestation as an innocent six-year-old 
victim, she became an instant advocate with a voice to help others. That was an extremely courageous thing to do and she did receive flak and some negativity from it. But in the long run, the good she is doing by helping even just one person proves her bravery, strength, honesty and conviction.
victim, she became an instant advocate with a voice to help others. That was an extremely courageous thing to do and she did receive flak and some negativity from it. But in the long run, the good she is doing by helping even just one person proves her bravery, strength, honesty and conviction.As much as she is a “girly girl” with her hair, nails and high heels, trust me, this Mexican-American warrior is just as strong as the athletes she works with. But what I feel sets her apart from others is her level of giving and Gung-ho attitude. She has no problem telling people “no” when anyone tries to take advantage of her, BUT for those that really need help, she is there. I think it’s her intuitive nature that guides her to help others; she has a platform to do it and I always tell her (jokingly) that one day I wouldn’t be surprised if she donated a kidney to a stranger in need! That’s Nancy’s nature. And she never ceases to amaze me.
Women in boxing is much more prevalent these days, but of course it’s still a male-dominated sport both in business and inside the ring. It isn’t easy working up through the ranks; there is racism, there is sexism, nepotism and more. But through her own blood, sweat and tears, Nancy has persevered and continues to rise.
I wanted to write this piece to honor my boxing pal, someone I’m honored to call my friend. While the compliments about her in my article may seem over the top (I can hear her reaction now), in my own years of being in boxing I can tell you that Nancy is a passionate woman, someone who can continue to succeed in boxing AND make a difference in the lives of amateur kids, young prospects, hungry contenders, current champs and also the forgotten heroes of decades past. I’ve seen her treat a random little boy or girl with the same respect she gives when she chats with the biggest most powerful names in boxing. In a world of backstabbers, cheaters and money-grubbing people who will lie to your face (yes, I’ve seen a lot by now), Nancy Rodriguez stands out in her mission to bring a more positive light to boxing.
She deserves this shout out and we all need to support each other in this brutal sport we love.
And besides this month’s NVBHOF award, she will also be honored at the National Boxing Hall of Fame/California Boxing Hall of Fame Induction Awards on October 20. As this SoCal lady continues to thrive in boxing and beyond, I’m sure there will be many more accolades for the Latina beauty in the future.
Congratulations to Nancy on her Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame award. Keep fighting the good fight!
For more on the 2018 NVBHOF:
Photo by Michele Chong
