by Geoffrey Ciani (Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) – This week’s 130th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio (brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with undefeated heavyweight prospect David Rodriguez (34-0, 32 KOs) who is slated to face Owen Beck (29-7, 20 KOs) tonight at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Texas. Rodriguez spoke about his upcoming fight with Beck and also revealed plans about his future. Additionally he provided opinions on various aspects pertaining to the current boxing landscape including Manny Pacquiao, Klitschko-Haye, and more! Here is what he had to say:
Regarding training and preparations for his upcoming fight against Owen Beck:
“I feel great actually. We’ve been working really hard in Vegas and things have been going really well. The training was horrendous. I mean we’ve been working longer rounds with shorter breaks to the point that I have nothing left after every practice. So we’ve really picked up the pace for this opponent, because I know Owen goes the distance with a lot of guys and it takes a lot to get him out of there, so I want to be prepared for whatever happens.”
On whether he feels facing Beck is a step up in the direction towards landing fights against bigger name contenders:
“Yeah, I definitely think this is a step up. I’ve had incremental steps up, but I think this one is a good jump. It’s either now or never. I’ve switched boxing teams. There was a lot of controversy around that. I feel better with the team I’m with. Training is great. Even though I miss my old trainer and a lot of the old stuff, it was time to bring in some new things and I think this is the guy they wanted to put me in with. I accepted, gladly. I said this is what we need to do. I’m not getting any younger.”
His views on his fighting style and regarding his slow progression as a professional boxer:
“Well I mean I was raised in a border city. I border Mexico so I kind of grew up having a Mexican style, but I’ve always had really fast hands so I was always able to take guys out of there. I only had about ten amateur fights, but at that time growing up I was playing baseball, football, basketball, everything, and I never though t boxing would be the sport that I would choose to be honest with you. It just kind of worked out that way. Even when I turned pro, the reason it’s been such a slow process is I didn’t really know if this was the road I was going to go down. I just started knocking everybody out. After about 10, 15, 20 fights I was like man, I got a knack for this. I just decided to start taking it more seriously, and that’s really the reason it took so long. I was kind of figuring things out in my 20s. I didn’t know if boxing was the right route to go. I was having fun fighting, but I wanted to go back to school, I wanted to do some other things, and then all of a sudden it just took on a life of its own, and I decided that boxing was for me. It wasn’t until I was probably I would say 30 that I decided that I needed to take this seriously and just finish what I started, and that is to go for the heavyweight championship. I’ve obviously got the talent, I’ve got the tools, I’ve got the speed, I’ve got the ability, I’ve got the strength in my punches. You know, why not? I just decided that’s the road I’d take.”
On how far away he thinks he is before he will get a shot at a major title:
“You know I take it fight by fight, but I would say three fights away or four fights away. I think once I beat Owen Beck and have another fight after that, I’ll probably have to prove myself a few more times and then I’m sure I’ll get the call. I mean I’m starting to make waves now, and if I win impressively and I can keep winning impressively then I don’t see how they can deny me. I believe this fight’s going to launch me into the top 15 or top 10. I’m not sure which one, but I’m not worried about that. The only thing I’m worried about right now is just winning, and it’s a lot of pressure because I want to win impressively. I don’t want to just get the win. So that’s the pressure I have on me. I’m 34-0 with 32 knockouts. People want to see, is David the real deal or not? That’s the pressure that’s on my shoulders right now. I’m trying to just relax and just get the win, but I do want to get the win impressively. I think after this fight, maybe two or three more fights and I think I’ll get a title shot.”
His views on the upcoming heavyweight unification fight between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye and whether he thinks this fight can help rejuvenate the division:
“Yeah, definitely! I mean already I’m excited about it. I think David Haye did exactly what he had to do to get the fight. It’s annoying to me to see somebody talk so much, but it was what was called for. I think he kind of had to pull that card in order for people to listen and take this fight seriously. I don’t think David Haye would have ever gotten his shot if he wouldn’t have done what he’s doing. So this was his only way. He had to use his mouth to get in there and the guy is talented. He’s extremely fast. He’s a finisher. To be honest, I respect the Klitschkos, and I do respect the Klitschkos. I mean they’re heavyweight champions for a reason, but they’re both holding belts and it’s really going nowhere. It’s kind of stagnant with them holding the belts. I think David Haye is kind of shaking it up, and I predict David Haye to win. I really do. I think David Haye is going to win sensationally.”
His views on Manny Pacquiao as a boxer:
“Manny Pacquiao I think is a phenom in boxing. Every time he fights, he’s crushing these guys. It almost looks effortless. He’s going through world champions and he’s moved up how many weight classes, six? Yeah. I mean come on. That’s incredible! He throws unorthodox punches that land and knock guys out. If you just looked at his last fight with Sugar Shane Mosley, he kind of went into a shell and that’s not Mosley’s style. Mosley likes to mix it up and let his speed go. But he was in such a shell because he didn’t know what to do with Pacquiao, because Pacquiao is coming at him from all different angles. He moves laterally, throws wide right hooks, then he comes up with a stiff jab, and throws a combination of punches and all of them are solid and hard. I think Pacquiao’s a sensation and I think he’s going to be on top for awhile. I think he’s one of the greatest fighters that ever lived if you want my honest opinion.”
On whether there is added pressure for him to score a knockout against Owen Beck given the fact six of Beck’s seven career losses have come by knockout:
“No, because that can be deceiving. I’ve seen some of his losses and they were very controversial. They shouldn’t have been stopped a couple of them. He gets wobbly a little bit with I think it was Charr. I don’t think he should have been stopped in that fight. There are a few other ones where he shouldn’t have been stopped. So I think he has a lot left in the tank. If he came in for my fight, I think he’s weighing like 238. He looks very trim and ready to go. I’m expecting a completely different Owen Beck then what has fought all these other guys. I can either have a very long night with this guy, because he is crafty and he stays busy, or I could get him out quickly. I know he’s going to give it his all, and I’m going to give it my all. The outcome Friday night, I should be the one raising my hands if everything goes well.”
On whether fans can expect him to continue stepping up his level of competition if he beats Owen Beck:
“Yeah, I plan to. Yes. We have a plan, a schedule for August or September and then again in November. So if everything goes well with Beck, and we plan it to, then yes. I’ll be fighting once again in late August or early September, then after thing goes well in that fight then I’ll be fighting again in November.”
His official prediction for his upcoming fight against Owen Beck:
“I think I’m going to knock him out. I can’t tell you the round, but I think it’s going to be within six and I think I’m going to overwhelm him I think once he starts tasting my power. I’m going to be a little patient with him and pick my shots. I think once he starts feeling my power, just like everybody else has, their eyes kind of get wide and then they know they’re in for a long night and that’s when I start turning it up. As the rounds go on, I start turning it up more and more and then usually by the second, third, or fourth round, they either fold or it’s just over. I mean either they don’t want to get off their stool or it’s over. So I would say I predict the same thing with him. I know he’s going to come in game and ready, but I just got to take that out of him.”
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For those interested in listening to the David Rodriguez interview in its entirety, it begins approximately eighteen minutes into the program.
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