Julian Rodriguez, known as 'Hammer Hands', is set to bring his North Jersey grit to a fight in Las Vegas. He aims to showcase his skills and determination on a larger stage.
Key points
Julian Rodriguez is known as 'Hammer Hands'
Rodriguez brings North Jersey grit to his fights
He is set to fight in Las Vegas
The fight is scheduled for June 27, 2025
Rodriguez aims to showcase his skills
Mentioned in this story
Las VegasAnaheim, California
Julian Rodriguez
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: (L-R) Avious Griffin and Julian Rodriguez pose during a ceremonial weigh-in before their fight at Honda Center on June 27, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
JANUARY 21: Julian Rodriguez speaks at the Zuffa Boxing press conference at Meta APEX on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
JANUARY 21: Julian Rodriguez and Cain Sandoval pose after the Zuffa Boxing press conference at Meta APEX on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Julian Rodriguez punches Avious Griffin to a knockout win at Honda Center on June 28, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez punches Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
Q&A
Who is Julian Rodriguez in boxing?
Julian Rodriguez, nicknamed 'Hammer Hands', is a professional boxer known for his powerful punches and determination.
What is the significance of Rodriguez's fight in Las Vegas?
Rodriguez's fight in Las Vegas represents a major opportunity to showcase his talent on a prominent platform, potentially elevating his career.
When is Julian Rodriguez's fight scheduled?
Julian Rodriguez's fight is scheduled for June 27, 2025, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
What does 'Hammer Hands' refer to in boxing?
'Hammer Hands' refers to Julian Rodriguez's nickname, highlighting his reputation for delivering powerful punches in the ring.
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JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez punches Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez reacts after his victory against Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez reacts after his victory against Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
US boxer Julian Rodriguez of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, reacts after knocking out Avious Griffin in their welterweight boxing match at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Julian Rodriguez - Paul vs. Chavez Jr. weigh-ins
Avious Griffin vs. Julian Rodriguez - Paul vs. Chavez Jr. weigh-ins
Jul 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Julian Rodriguez (White gloves) and Yankton Southern (red gloves) box during their junior welterweight bout at Madison Square Garden. Rodriguez won via first round knockout. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Julian Rodriguez (White gloves) in the ring before his unior welterweight bout against Yankton Southern (not pictured) at Madison Square Garden. Rodriguez won via first round knockout. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Julian Rodriguez (green/black trunks) and Nyein Maung (black trunks) box during their welterweight bout at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Rodriguez won via first round knockout. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: (L-R) Avious Griffin and Julian Rodriguez pose during a ceremonial weigh-in before their fight at Honda Center on June 27, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: (L-R) Avious Griffin and Julian Rodriguez pose during a ceremonial weigh-in before their fight at Honda Center on June 27, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
JANUARY 21: Julian Rodriguez speaks at the Zuffa Boxing press conference at Meta APEX on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
JANUARY 21: Julian Rodriguez and Cain Sandoval pose after the Zuffa Boxing press conference at Meta APEX on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Julian Rodriguez punches Avious Griffin to a knockout win at Honda Center on June 28, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez punches Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez punches Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez reacts after his victory against Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez reacts after his victory against Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
US boxer Julian Rodriguez of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, reacts after knocking out Avious Griffin in their welterweight boxing match at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
Julian Rodriguez - Paul vs. Chavez Jr. weigh-ins
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
Avious Griffin vs. Julian Rodriguez - Paul vs. Chavez Jr. weigh-ins
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
Jul 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Julian Rodriguez (White gloves) and Yankton Southern (red gloves) box during their junior welterweight bout at Madison Square Garden. Rodriguez won via first round knockout. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
Jul 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Julian Rodriguez (White gloves) in the ring before his unior welterweight bout against Yankton Southern (not pictured) at Madison Square Garden. Rodriguez won via first round knockout. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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See photos of Julian Rodriguez, 'Hammer Hands' boxer from New Jersey
Jan 25, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Julian Rodriguez (green/black trunks) and Nyein Maung (black trunks) box during their welterweight bout at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Rodriguez won via first round knockout. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The best nicknames in sports are those that are earned, not solely given.
Julian Rodriguez was fighting bigger kids as a precocious 8-year-old at the Joe Grier Boxing Academy in Paterson and more than holding his own when his stepfather offered up a moniker that has stuck for more than two decades.
Hammer Hands.
With an inspirational nod to former world champion "Hands of Stone" Roberto Duran, Rodriguez went on to back up his reputation at a young age with a punishing combination of power and precision.
"You gotta ask my opponents," Rodriguez said with a laugh, asked by NorthJersey.com and The Record in a recent phone interview if the Hammer Hands nickname fits.
"I think they'll tell you how legit it is."
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Julian Rodriguez punches Avious Griffin to a knockout win at Honda Center on June 28, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 28: Julian Rodriguez punches Avious Griffin to a knockout win at Honda Center on June 28, 2025 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Rodriguez credits his "North Jersey attitude" for developing the mindset that has helped deal with ups and downs of a boxing career that's soaring again after a two-year layoff during which he fought injury, depression and uncertainly in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Julian Rodriguez vs. James Perella in Vegas on Sunday
This Sunday night, the 31-year-old Rodriguez will fight for the second time under the Zuffa Boxing banner in Las Vegas as part of a co-main event against Massachusetts native James Perella.
The event, which features Shane Mosley Jr. as the headliner, will be streamed live on Paramount+ beginning at 9 p.m. EST.
Zuffa Boxing is the promotion co-championed by UFC CEO Dana White and WWE president Nick Khan under the TKO umbrella, and Rodriguez (25-1, 15 knockouts) registered a knockout in his first Zuffa bout back in January during their inaugural event, and his star continues to rise.
Rodriguez was born in Hoboken and spent his early childhood in North Bergen - the home of "Cinderella Man" James J. Braddock, of course - before his family moved to Westwood. That's where he started high school before the family eventually made Hasbrouck Heights his home, and it still is today.
Growing up in gyms around North Jersey, Rodriguez watched his dad train boxers and loved being around fighters. But his love of WWE initially trumped that of the sweet science, leading to in-ring impressions of Rey Mysterio and imitations on the top turnbuckle of The Rock.
When Dad told Julian that, if he was going to play around in the ring, he'd have to give up the "fake stuff for the real thing," the younger Rodriguez obliged. Within two years, he was ranked No. 1 in the country in his weight class and was crowned Golden Gloves national champion.
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez reacts after his victory against Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
JANUARY 23: Julian Rodriguez reacts after his victory against Cain Sandoval in a welterweight fight during the Zuffa Boxing event at Meta APEX on January 23, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)
As an amateur, Rodriguez amassed a record of 221-9. He was an alternate for the 2012 Olympics in London and rather quickly stamped himself as the best boxing prospect to emerge from North Jersey since former WBO junior welterweight champion and Paterson native Kendall Holt.
Support from NJ's Liv Morgan, WWE women's champion
In addition to the physicality of the sport, Rodriguez gained an appreciation for the showmanship aspect both inside and outside the ring. He befriended future WWE women's champion Liv Morgan, who harbored similar aspirations while growing up five miles away in Elmwood Park.
Morgan has become one of the biggest wrestling stars in the world, and the friendship that formed between the current WWE women's champion and Rodriguez grew from an appreciation for the grind.
“We both grew up in New Jersey chasing huge dreams, and now it’s honestly crazy seeing us both working under the TKO banner and living those dreams at the highest level," Morgan told NorthJersey.com and The Record via email. "Julian’s always had the heart, discipline, and mentality for moments like this. I’m so happy to see him thriving with Zuffa and getting these big opportunities. I know he’s going to make Jersey proud this weekend and capture his moment."
Julian Rodriguez's love of sports
Growing up in the shadow of the Meadowlands, Rodriguez considers himself a big New York Giants fan who trained with former Pro Bowler Landon Collins, among others. His other connection to football is former NFL pro and Rutgers star Steve Beauharnais, one of his co-managers.
While Beauharnais was earning his stripes on the varsity football fields of Bergen County, first at Saddle Brook High School and then St. Joseph Regional in Montvale, Rodriguez's focus remained on the ring - albeit after a slight detour to the diamond.
"I tried to play baseball for one season when I was 9, and my whole boxing team didn't talk to me for three months," Rodriguez recalled. "Ever since I was 9 years old, I was ranked No. 1 in the country, and that was because I was being trained like no other kind was being trained, and I didn't deal with any type of outside distractions that could get in the way of boxing. That did shape who I am.
US boxer Julian Rodriguez of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, reacts after knocking out Avious Griffin in their welterweight boxing match at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
US boxer Julian Rodriguez of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, reacts after knocking out Avious Griffin in their welterweight boxing match at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
"It's really not about winning or losing," he said. "I really do feel like I have a story to tell. I have a way of resonating with people, and this is all part of my story. The ups and downs would make for a good movie, you know what I mean? It's one thing to keep winning and winning and winning, but the real lessons are in the losses and in the hard times because once you get over that adversity, you really strengthen yourself and you see things differently."
Rodriguez has additional motivation now: he wants his two children (son Jayden, 13; daughter Phoenix, 7) to be inspired by the journey their father has taken and all that he has overcome.
"Some of the greatest fighters with the biggest stories have multiple losses," Rodriguez said. "I'm really just trying to be impactful. I want my grandkids one day to be in school and be like, 'You know, my grandpa fought in Madison Square Garden.' Like, you know, that will be cool to me, and that's why I do what I do.
