David Rodriguez; “The bigger they are…the harder they fall!”
 INTERVIEW By Benny Henderson Jr (June 26, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
Coming up Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, TX, to be televised on pay-per-view 9:00 PM EST/6:00 PM PST, undefeated hard hitting hometown heavyweight David ‘Nino’ Rodriguez 25-0 (24) tries to keep his unblemished record in tact against the unbeaten 6’9” knockout artist ‘Big’ Rick Dyer 13-0 (13 KO’s) in a scheduled ten round bout.
Rodriguez, who stepped in the professionals ranks in December of 1998, has devoured all who has crossed his pathway, knocking out
twenty-four of his twenty-five opponents, with twenty-one of his opponents failing to make it out of the first round. In his time in the pros Rodriguez has earned the Texas state and New Mexico states heavyweight titles, both won with first round stoppages.
Although ‘Nino’ stands at 6’5” and weighs in around 240-pounds, the tough Texan is giving up around fifty pounds and four inches in height when he takes on the Oklahoma state heavyweight title holder, Rick Dyer. The towering giant has stopped every opponent that he has faced, nine of his thirteen victims have fallen in the first round, so with the two hard hitting heavyweights going into this bout to impress the fight world, no doubt this is going to be a barnburner of a brawl in this battle of the big men.
Rodriguez took the time out to speak to Doghouse Boxing and gave his thoughts on his upcoming match-up, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: First off give the readers your thoughts on your upcoming match-up against fellow undefeated heavyweight Rick Dyer and your thoughts on the pay-per-view exposure.
David Rodriguez: I am excited about it, I think it is great. This is what I have been fight for; I think I am long overdue actually.
BH: You and Dyer fought on the same card a time or two, so you have seen the big man in action, what are your thoughts on Dyer as far as his style, size and skill level?
DR: I think he is a big strong guy; I am going to fight the same fight I fight always, doing some things a little bit different. He does not intimidate me at all, I am not over confidant but I am confident I will succeed.
BH: You know I was at one of your fights one night, also on the card was Rick, I was sitting ringside and just
happened to look back over my shoulder and seen you and Dyer seemingly having a few choice words to one another. You know what I am talking about?
DR: Yeah, he bumped into my shoulder and asked if I was ready to do this, and I told him that I would do it in the parking lot. He basically looked at me and looked at him, there was no hesitation I would have done it in the parking lot, I am a professional but I do not like somebody invading my personal space.
BH: How has your training been going for this fight?
DR: I have big sparring partner, I have big left handers working with me. I am working hard, I have been sparring six, eight to ten rounds. Everything is on schedule, I am in great shape, I am at a lower weight that I thought I would be at, and hopefully I stay at that. Everything is great, it is a fun camp, everybody is having a good time, tons of sparring, tons of heavy weights, it has been a good camp.
BH: What about Rick’s size, you have a 6’9” 290-plus left hander, how do you feel you will adapt to his size?
DR: Yes he is very big, but my speed and power is something that I have, so he is big but I am also strong. He is going to find that I am just as strong as he is if not stronger.
BH: What about pressure, this is your first pay-per-view fight, as well in front of your hometown fans, any pressure?
DR: Yeah it is a lot of pressure, but I try to block it out, I keep reminding myself how hard I am training and how bad I want this. That is the only way I can do this, I am going into the fight with a clear mind, so what if the people and cameras are there, I know I have mission and I need to accomplish it.
BH: Why should the fight fans tune into this pay-per-view show, I am not talking about the Holyfield vs. Savarese bout, but the Rodriguez versus Dyer bout?
DR: Because they have two undefeated heavyweights with knockouts fighting, I think that is appealing enough, that right there will sell the pay-per-view.
BH: What can the fight fans expect from ‘Nino’ come fight night?
DR: Me at my best, and running on all cylinders and ready to go.
BH: If you could send out a message to Rick, what would it be?
DR: Honestly, I would say I talk with my hands, and basically come fight night he is going to see what I have been waiting to do, so bring you’re A-game because the bigger they are the harder they fall.
BH: Anything you would like to say in closing of this interview?
DR: I am ready and I feel good, everything is in God’s hands and I wish the best for Dyer and myself and I hope we both come out healthy.
I would like to thank David for his time and thoughts, for more information on Rodriguez please visit: www.ninoboxing.com
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