David Rodriguez: “I am a man on a mission!”


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David Rodriguez: “I am a man on a mission!”

Interview by Benny Henderson Jr., Doghouse Boxing (Sept 23, 2008) DoghouseBoxing.com

Undefeated heavyweight star David “Nino” Rodriguez 28-0 (26) is a man on a mission. His mission is to seek out and destroy all who cross his pathway to a world heavyweight title, and thus far the tough Texan has travelled an unblemished road. This weekend the heavy hitter aims to make it twenty-nine consecutive victories as he takes on battled tested Andy Sample 34-17-2 (22) September 27th in Mexico City for the Mexico heavyweight title.

The thirty-one year old fighter made his debut the winter of 1998 and over the past decade he has

banged out a spotless record of twenty-eight victories, including twenty-two first round knockouts, which has earned Rodriguez the Texas state as well as the New Mexico state heavyweight titles, and Nino is eying a world title shot in the near future.

In this exclusive interview conducted by Doghouse Boxing, Rodriguez speaks out in his upcoming fight as well as answering the critics, enjoy.

Benny Henderson Jr.: Hey brother, you will be facing veteran Andy Sample in a little over a week. Sample was not your original opponent, but you know the business better than I do, what are your thoughts on all of this going into the fight?

David Rodriguez: I am just staying calm, I am not looking into it to much. I am still going in there with the same mission. I have trained hard and I am still training hard. I am not over looking Sample at all, I know that he is a tough fighter. I was looking forward to fighting Robert Davis but there were a lot of things I guess that he could not agree to. But that is fine, I will move on and I look at Andy Sample as an obstacle that I have to get over again.

BH: This is like the second or third opponent that has changed in this fight, as well as when you fought your last fight against Gutcher, he was not your original opponent. Here you are a week out from the fight and your opponent has changed yet again, what does that do to your mental state?

DR: If anything it is making me tougher to be honest, the more I endure shows what character I have. I can easily throw my hands up and say screw it I am not doing this anymore, or lose faith in what I am doing. But I feel like I am a man on a mission, and I am going to keep persevering until I reach my goal, and however long it takes it how ling it takes because I am not a quitter and I know circumstances will get better. I just push through.

BH: What do you know about Andy Sample?

DR: I know he comes to fight just like everybody else. He can mix it up, but as everyone knows so can I.

BH: Your thoughts on fighting in Mexico City?

DR: I think it is a great opportunity, I love it and a lot of my family is there. It is a change from fighting in the states, I think this is going to be another homecoming to Mexico. I think it will be a good day to get back to my culture.

BH: You have been in the business ten years now you are fixing to be thirty-one years old, still young for a fighter these days. But some fans and media believe you are a bit behind schedule in fighting the upper class of the division. Would you agree, and if so, why is that?

DR: I agree to an extent and I disagree. I am thirty-one, yes, but I feel that is still very young for a heavyweight. I am 28-0, I am on the right track even though it is slower than most, I would rather be 28-0 than 10-10. I feel like I am taking the right steps even though they are small steps. At some point I am going to get to the big show, I think I am getting closer, it only takes one fight and I am getting closer to that fight. People can say what they want, I know people are frustrated, but nobody is more frustrated than me. To be honest I am the one who has to live through this and go through this, so if I can deal with so can everybody else. People are easy to point the finger and criticize, but they are not the ones getting in the ring. I think I speak for every fighter in that degree. Fighters are the ones picked on, you are only as good as your last fight, or you fight all bums, you discredit all the people that I have gotten in the ring against, it is not fair to me or the people that I have fought. I think it is doing an injustice to the sport itself, it is a tough sport and I am doing the best that I can. Whatever pace it is, well that is what it is, God willing if I can move faster than I would. I feel like I have good management, they are the ones getting me the fights not me, I take the fights that they give me. That is all I can do Benny, is try my best everyday and push and keep pushing and keep trying harder and harder, it is the journey not the destination. I am busting my butt everyday, and when I get there I will get there, and the point is, is that I will get there. That was a long one.

BH: What do you feel you have to offer the fight world?

DR: Honestly, excitement, I think that I can be a huge draw. I am already and draw when I fight, people want to watch a controversial fighter, that’s me. I am exciting and I come to fight, I am very quick and I am very heavy-handed, and anybody who fights me better come in prepared.

BH: Although you have been a professional for ten years, you have only seen forty-four rounds of action. Sample has fought just a year longer than you and has competed in over one hundred and eighty rounds. Do you feel his experience will pose a problem?

DR: No, not at all, because I have sparred with the best fighters. I look at Andy, he is a tough fighter, he comes to fight but I believe my skills will out shine his, and if my skill doesn’t than my heart will.

BH: What can the fight fans expect from Nino come fight night?

DR: A fight, I am going to be letting my hands go, I am going to be picking my shots wisely, I am not going to be looking for the knockout but if it comes it comes.

BH: Any message you would like to send out to Andy Sample before the fight?

DR: The best of luck and God bless.

BH: Anything in closing?

DR: Nothing this time man, I am good.