David Rodriguez: “I think I am going to knock him out!”
 INTERVIEW By Benny Henderson Jr (Nov 22, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
Knockouts have been a big part of David Rodriguez’s 26-0 (25) career. Only one of his twenty-six bouts has reached the scorecards, with twenty-one of his stoppages coming in the opening round. And although the undefeated heavyweight reveals he does not look for the knockout, the El Paso native may be able to extend his knockout streak to eight consecutive stoppages when he steps in the ring with the battle-tested veteran Damon Reed 43-12 (30) on December 21st at ‘The Barn’ in Las Cruces, NM.
This far 2007 has been a stellar year for ‘Nino’. He has banged out three knockout victories, his last coming in the second round over the then undefeated 6’9” Rick Dyer, and the thirty year old rising star looks to continue his winning streak by closing out the year with a bang to set himself up for an even bigger 2008.
In this exclusive interview Rodriguez conducted with the Doghouse, David speaks on his upcoming fight and touches on other subjects as well, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: You’ll be facing veteran Damon Reed December 21st, give the readers your thoughts on that match-up.
David Rodriguez: I think I am going to knock him out. I am not looking for the knockout because I never do, I am looking to box him but when the knock out comes it will come.
BH: How would you grade your performance in 2007 this far?
DR: I never give myself an A, so maybe a B- or a B+.
BH: Reed has fought guys like Herbie Hide, Roman Greenberg and such, what do you feel a win over Reed will do for your career?
DR: I think it will be a good mark, I think basically it is a good step up I think is a correct step up for now, I think in all it would validate that I am going to the championship. People know that I am taking on tougher guys. It is a process, I am doing it one step at a time.
BH: Let’s look back this past two or three years, you had some problems with a hand injury and had some family issues and such, but since ’05 you have come back pretty strong, how do you feel you have progressed the past two years?
DR: I am relaxing a lot more, and to me that is a big deal. That is the main thing, I am training a lot harder and I am learning my body, it is all coming with experience.
BH: What statement do you want to make in 2008?
DR: As long as I keep winning that is a statement, I know I am going to make it to the title, I can not exactly predict when I am going to get to the title, I am not exactly in the biggest rush, I think everything happens in God’s time. The statement I want to make, I want to explode on the heavyweight scene, and basically I want a name to be reckoned with in 2008.
BH: What do you feel you need to do, or shall I say who do you feel you need to reach your goal?
DR: I think just keeping beating whomever they put in front of me, just keep knocking them out.
BH: You had a very good up bringing, you are a smart guy and could pretty much do anything else besides fighting, what is your drive?
DR: I love the sport, actually as a teenager boxing was my outlet, I grew up in a border town where you were always fighting, I had a lot of anger pent up in me as a kind and boxing was my outlet.
BH: You are half white and half Hispanic, the Mexican people really get behind their fighters, do you have followings on both sides, or is it stronger with one particular race, and do you feel that you have a little more on your shoulders since you are not representing once race but two in the ring?
DR: Yeah it is tough, but honestly I think it is a perfect mix, I can carry two loads, and both races take me in pretty well. I was raised in El Paso so I was basically raised on both sides of the border.
BH: You have these four sanctioning bodies, a champion or title holder in each division the WBA, WBC, IBF and the WBO. To me that dilutes the division because you don’t have that one guy, you agree?
DR: I think that has been plaguing boxing for a long time, but more titles means the money is spread out more and there is more money to be generated.
BH: In your opinion with the four titleholders who do you feel is the champ?
DR: Klitschko. I think Wladimir has proven himself.
BH: If you could send out a message to Damon Reed using Doghouse Boxing as a platform, what would you say to this guy?
DR: God Bless him, because he is coming into a tough fight.
BH: Anything you want to add to or say in closing of this interview?
DR: I am going to be ready and totally prepared for this fight. It’s all business.
I would like to thank David Rodriguez for his time and thoughts, for more info on ‘Nino’ please visit, www.ninoboxing.com.
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