By Ryan Maquiñana

Super middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (23-0, 15 KOs) appeared on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area’s “Yahoo! SportsTalk Live” talk show to discuss his upcoming Saturday matchup in Monte Carlo with Denis Grachev (13-1-1, 8 KOs), being the father of twins born with cerebral palsy, and how much he would welcome a future clash with the king of the 168-pound division, Andre Ward.

ON MATCHING UP WITH GRACHEV, A NATURAL LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT:

“Grachev is a really tough guy, but I want to see if he’ll do anything different except come forward.  I don’t think he’s really been in with a fighter as good as me yet.”

ON THE CONTRACTED CATCHWEIGHT OF 171.5 POUNDS:

“They’re saying Grachev is going to have an advantage because of the weight, but after working here in the Bay Area with these guys (nutritionist Victor Conte, sprint coach Remi Korchemny, strength coach Mike Bazzel, and trainer Brian Schwartz), I can spar 15 rounds if I have to now, and I’m stronger than I’ve ever been.  He’s going to feel my power.”

ON WATCHING A SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS BASEBALL GAME (RODRIGUEZ’S PROMOTER, LOU DIBELLA, OWNS THE GIANTS’ DOUBLE-A AFFILIATE):

“Lou loves baseball.  I didn’t get to check out [AT&T] Park when I was here, but I’m definitely making him get me some tickets next time I come.”

ON TARGETING WORLD CHAMPION ANDRE WARD DOWN THE LINE:

“I am here to be the best, and right now, Andre Ward is the best in my weight class, and that is the fight I want.  I know the people would like me to fight another top 10 guy, and as soon as I can get one of those top 10 guys in there, I’m willing to go to San Francisco, or wherever it is, and prove I’m the best super middleweight in the world [against Ward].”

ON FIGHTING FOR HIS FAMILY; RODRIGUEZ AND HIS WIFE HAVE THREE CHILDREN INCLUDING TWINS WHO WERE BORN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY:

“I have to be able to provide for my family, and just seeing how much my kids have been able to fight for their lives, I have to fight for them.  I’m going to give everything I have in the ring because my family deserves it.”

Ryan Maquiñana was the boxing producer for NBCOlympics.com during London 2012 and writes a weekly column for CSNBayArea.com.  He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the Ratings Panel for Ring Magazine. E-mail him at rmaquinana@gmail.com , check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28