Boxing returns on Sunday night, Mother’s Day, as Zuffa Boxing 06 streams live on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on Sky Sports in the U.K. One of the supporting bouts for the main event of Shane Mosley Jr. vs. Serhii Bohachuk will be Julian ‘Hammer Hands’ Rodriguez (25-1, 15 KOs) facing the undefeated James Perella (21-0, 15 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round bout.
Although it was fight week, which tends to be one of the worst times to interview a fighter unless they are a heavyweight, Rodriguez was professional and spoke to FightsATW ahead of Sunday’s fight. As always, Rodriguez stayed cool, calm, and collected as he described his mental state during fight week. “I’m good,” Rodriguez told FightsATW. “I’m locking in mentally. The camp went fantastic. I was here in Vegas for eight weeks at the UFC PI, and getting great sparring. I feel great. I’m ready.”
Things haven’t always been on the up and up for Rodriguez, who has been subject to how the business of boxing can affect someone’s career. Since last summer, he’s seen a surge in his boxing career. In June 2025, Rodriguez was brought in by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions as an opponent for their then-undefeated prospect Avious Griffin. Rodriguez stopped Griffin in the last round, which led to big opportunities this year. Rodriguez took a moment to reflect on what those last 12 months looked like for him.
“When I’m back in New Jersey, I spend a lot of time with my children. Before this last year, things were pretty down for me as I was inactive for a while. I was dealing with a lot of things fighters deal with when it comes to management or the team they are with in terms of promoter. During those times, I really grew as a person. Once I formed my new team, everything has been on the up.
“I know my value as a fighter. It’s a matter of believing in yourself no matter what position in life you’re in. I have two kids, so it’s just not thinking about myself in those moments. When I have to sacrifice or at a down time, my kids feel that too. Thank God, at this time, those days are behind us.”
Rodriguez would end up signing with Zuffa Boxing and was showcased on their inaugural card against another undefeated fighter, Cain Sandoval. This one would hear the final bell, but the result was the same, as Rodriguez came out of it with the victory. Did Rodriguez feel any pressure to deliver on a card that had so much anticipation?
“There’s always pressure,” he said. “Every fight is the biggest fight of my career now, especially after the Griffin fight. The atmosphere around the shows doesn’t really affect me. I use it to bring out the best of me. I allow the pressure to fuel me and not consume me. I don’t focus on the outcomes anymore. I just focus on the present. I know when I’m aligned, I’m a dangerous mother f*cker.”
Rodriguez’s opponent, Perella, is undefeated but hasn’t fought anyone with Rodriguez’s experience level in those 21 fights he’s had so far. He does have 15 knockouts in those 21 fights, so this fight could end up being one of the more entertaining ones of the night. If Rodriguez comes out victorious, he’ll be one step closer to fighting for a Zuffa Boxing title. But if you ask Rodriguez, he’s only thinking about now and not what could happen later. He knows that first comes Perella and then everything else. If he had to think about some of the things that have already happened, they have changed his profile considerably.
“When I have the time to think about it, being on the first Zuffa card, getting both bonuses and really showing out, and putting myself back on the map; also, being active. Before this last year, I was inactive for several years while I was navigating the business side of the sport, which we all know is very ugly.”
“The main goal right now for this next year or two years is to become the first Zuffa welterweight champion.”
Watch Rodriguez vs. Perella on Sunday night to see if “Hammer Hands” Rodriguez delivers another bonus-winning fight.
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