Gabe Rosado needed less than three minutes to relaunch his career on Saturday night. The 39-year-old veteran dropped and stopped over-matched Crispulo Javier Andino inside the opening round of their scheduled eight-round light-heavyweight bout at Thunder Studios in Long Beach, California, registering win number 27 after a 16-month spell in retirement.
Rosado walked away from boxing in April 2023 following a points defeat to Bektemir Melikuziev, but working ringside as a DAZN analyst rekindled his fighting instincts. Reunited with long-time trainer Billy Briscoe, the Philadelphia-born Puerto Rican came out sharp, pinned Andino early and closed the show with a right hand that prompted referee Raul Caiz Sr. to wave it off at 2:17.
With the comeback victory secured, Rosado immediately set his sights on a home-island showdown against compatriot Edgar Berlanga, who suffered his first loss when Hamzah Sheeraz knocked him out on July 12.
“We want Berlanga in Puerto Rico,” Rosado said in the ring. “He just got a slice of humble pie; let’s see him bounce back against me. I’ve got the island behind me—let’s make it happen.”
Whether Berlanga and his promoters entertain the challenge remains to be seen, but Rosado insists his “new beginning” has only just begun: “It ain’t over; there’s unfinished business.”
Image Credit: Golden Boy Promotions