David Rodriguez: “People have not seen the best of me yet!”
 Interview By Benny Henderson Jr (Jan 5, 2008) Doghouse Boxing
Undefeated heavyweight David ‘Nino’ Rodriguez, 27-0 (25), closed out the year by defeating the battle tested journeyman Marcus McGee via unanimous decision, the second fight in David’s career to go the distance.
2007 was a solid year for the tough Texan who banged out four victories, but the El Paso native is not satisfied. Although Rodriguez has had nothing but success in the ring, the rising star is ready to take it to the next level. In an exclusive interview conducted by Doghouse Boxing, Rodriguez gives his thoughts on his recent win, his thoughts on
2007, as well as his future, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: Give the readers your thoughts on your recent victory over Marcus McGee.
David Rodriguez: Honestly, I felt that I could have done much better, I had a lot of gas left in the tank. I think Marcus is very durable and very tough, my hat’s off to him. I have nothing but respect for Marcus. I think I paced myself a little to much. I wanted to show people that I cold go the rounds and that was what I trained for. I was not explosive enough and I am sorry to the fans for that. I am usually a lot more explosive, but I needed to get the rounds in. I think Marcus was perfect for me to get them in.
BH: Look at your fights, knockout after knockout, you average about one and a half to two rounds per fight. This was the first time you had to go eight rounds, how did it feel?
DR: In between rounds I had a lot of stamina but that question that has been in my mind as well as the critics mind as
well, could I go eight to ten rounds, so I had to prove to myself that I could do it. It was a great stepping stone for me, it was a goal for me and it may sound ridiculous to people but I had to prove to myself that I could the rounds. I paced myself, and if I would have hurt him I would have taken him out, he never showed me that he was hurt so I just paced myself. There are good things about this fight and bad things as well for me, so over all I give myself a C+ for this fight.
BH: Do you feel this was a learning process?
DR: Very much so, it something that I needed to accomplish. It was a hanging question mark throughout my whole career and now that is gone since I have seen those rounds now. I have went into those uncharted waters.
BH: What are your thoughts on Marcus, you have a guy here who went the distance with the likes of Michael Grant and Jameel McCline. The deal with journeyman they are just that, the guys has fought a lot of people. You went the distance with a guy that is a very durable fighter.
DR: Yeah, he is no joke, Marcus, like I said my hat is off to him, I am just not happy with my performance and maybe that is taking away from him a little bit but I know I could have done better. I have to go back to the drawing board and look at what I did wrong. The best thing I could have done was of gone eight rounds, that was what I wanted and that was what happened. Marcus is tough and a very crafty guy. He was one of those guys for my style who was difficult to fight.
BH: What is next for you?
DR: I am going to get back in the gym sooner than I usually do, and go from there. I would like to go for a Hispanic belt to tell you the truth.
BH: Now that you are through with 2007, looking back what grade would you give yourself?
DR: Maybe a B+, I think I accomplished a lot this year, I got my name out there. I beat an undefeated giant in Rick Dyer on pay-per-view that was good exposure. Over all I think it was a good year, I have no complaints, I would of liked to of had another fight but a lot did not go through. Most of all I did what I wanted to do this year and that was get my name out there.
BH: If you could have anything in 2008 what would it be?
DR: To be very honest with everybody I have exercised a lot of demons in this last fight in going the rounds. I am going to step it up more, I am going to be more active and I want to win some kind of belt. In 2008 I want to win a belt, maybe two belts, I don’t know, I just want to go for some hardware now.
BH: Is there anything you would like to add in closing?
DR: I want to say glory to God, and I just want to say that I give much respect to Marcus, and people have not seen the best of me yet, they are going to see the best of me very soon.
I would like to thank David for his time and thoughts, for more info on Rodriguez please check out www.ninoboxing.com.
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