Elvis Rodriguez is fighting Lindolfo Delgado on Saturday night. He points to experience as the x-factor for how he plans on winning. 

Rodriguez has experienced plenty, both good and bad, through his 15-year career and their 10-round junior welterweight bout takes place at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

Rodriguez, 17-1-1 (13 KOs), was on top of the world in 2021. He was doing a guitar dance after his knockout victory, in homage to Elvis Presley, and looked to be a future main event fighter at junior welterweight. Then he lost to Kenneth Sims Jnr in 2021. Rodriguez, a 29-year-old from the Dominican Republic, has won six straight fights but hasn’t had that same excitement he garnered during that run. 

“I dealt with the loss, I got over it and I got better. So, rather than an advantage, I would say that it gives me a lot of experience,” Rodriguez told BoxingScene via translator. “We’ve worked very hard and intelligently, and thank God, at Wild Card, there is always good sparring.” 

Rodriguez trains with Freddie Roach and Marvin Somodio at Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, California. The bout is the most consequential fight of Rodriguez's career. Rodriguez, like most fighters, sees himself as the top guy in the division.

“I have fought better opponents,” Rodriguez added. “I see myself as the best fighter at 140lbs, I am going to demonstrate that and it is going to open the doors to face even better opposition.”

Delgado, 22-0 (16 KOs), is a 2016 Mexican Olympian who is looking to propel himself into the mix of a title shot. In December, Delgado, also 29, stopped Jackson Marinez. Delgado has stopped three out of his last four opponents with the exception being a split-decision win over Bryan Flores. Rodriguez sees the bout as a potential title eliminator. 

“I think this fight will open doors,” Rodriguez said. “I think it could open the door for a title eliminator fight.”

Lucas Ketelle is the author of “Inside the Ropes of Boxing,” a guide for young fighters, a writer for BoxingScene and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Find him on X at @BigDogLukie.