In the days before his title shot, Chicago boxer Francisco "Paco" Rodriguez had scaled the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art with his family to pose next to the famous "Rocky" statue.
Yet this time, the scene of triumph would give way to tragedy.
On Friday night, the former Golden Gloves champ known to Chicago fans as "Kid Aztec" collapsed in the ring in front of his father and brother, two former boxers working the corner as his managers. He had suffered fatal injuries at the end of a brutal slugfest with another fighter.
Rodriguez had a devoted following in Chicago's Mexican community. He billed himself as "El Nino Azteca," or "Kid Aztec, and his entourage often entered the ring in sombreros to the drumbeats of banda music.
Even Hernandez, a Puerto Rican, joined the show of cultural pride when he worked in Rodriguez's corner. "When he fought, we were all Mexicans," he said.
Friday night, Rodriguez had lost to Teon Kennedy in a battle for the USBA super bantamweight title. Rodriguez was nearly knocked out in the first round but came back to send Kennedy reeling. A late barrage by Kennedy in the 10th round caused the referee to stop the fight.
Hernandez, who assisted Rodriguez's father and brother in the corner, said the fighter initially didn't seem badly hurt. But moments later, the boxer complained that he was "sleepy" and his body went limp.
He died after surgery in a Philadelphia hospital.
Evaristo, Paco's father brought up Alex's then-9-month-old daughter Alejandra, who was born with just one kidney. But doctors had told Alex and his wife that a transplant was not necessary.
Maria, Paco's Mother immediately thought of her cousin Ramón, who was on dialysis and on the transplant list in Chicago in need of a kidney, and she was assured he would receive the organ if it was a match.
The final decision was left up to Sonia, Paco's wife, but she did not need convincing. She and Paco had discussed organ donation, and both agreed it would be the right thing to do. And aside from initial trepidation from Tito, who had flown back home to Chicago, the family was in full support.
"This was one of the easiest conversations I ever had with a family," Andrews said. "There was no hesitation. It seemed like this was something in line with what Paco and his life was about."
At the time of Paco's death, there were approximately 108,000 people waiting on transplant lists in the U.S., including more than 6,000 in Philadelphia.
Paco's dreamed of being a hero
"He would always tell me he wanted to be a hero," Sonia said. "So I said if that was his goal in life, then we're going to do it for him."
Paco was able to donate his heart, lungs, Liver, and kidneys - truly a HERO
Beautiful story.Much respect!
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