Real name David Rodriguez Name David Rodriguez Height 1.93 m Martial art Boxing Total fights 39 | Nickname(s) Nino Reach 79 in (200.7 cm) Wins 37 Role Boxer Education Coronado High School Division Heavyweight | |
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David "Nino" Rodriguez (born September 18, 1977 in El Paso, Texas) is an American heavyweight boxer. He was currently ranked number 13 in the world by the WBC and number 12 by the WBA while 5 in the world by the IBA. He defeated Owen Beck in El Paso to win the WBC FECOMBOX Mexican Heavyweight Championship.
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Rodriguez has a 37–2 record (35 KOs, 25 inside 1st round) Rodriguez held the Texas Heavyweight title, New Mexico Heavyweight title as well as the WBC Fecarbox Latin title. That was until his most prestigious win against a very tough and durable contender in Manuel Pucheta for the N.A.B.A Heavyweight title. Now the biggest win up to date is against former #1 contender and challenger for the heavyweight championship Owen Beck. Owen was knocked out by a double short hook for over 15 minutes. Rodriguez was launched into world recognition and was up for serious contention for the world heavyweight championship. Rodriguez since retired after a near death, life altering attemptive murder in which four suspects came behind him and brutally slashed his throat. Rodriguez received 369 stitches and was 36–0 and undefeated up until that altercation. Rodriguez lost twice since the incident and now is a dominant key note speaker and helps many charities with anti bullying, domestic violence and victims of violent crimes. Shortly after the incident Rodriguez stepped away from boxing after two straight losses. The first against Darnell Wilson and second against Raymond Ochieng. Both considered very big upsets, Rodriguez stepped away from boxing and announced retirement. After 16 months of retirement he finally returned Nov 21 20015 with a 42-second KO in the first round over Miguel Domingues of Brazil 23–4 with 21 knockouts.
Early life and education
Rodriguez, from El Paso Texas, went to Coronado High School and went on to have a 16-year professional top contention boxing career up until a brutal attack on his life. Since the attack, Rodriguez has become a humanitarian in helping all kinds of charities ranging from domestic abuse, violent crimes and bullying. He is a predominant key note speaker in many of these areas including PTSD.
Amateur record
His amateur record is 10-1 with 6 KOs.
Professional career
On November 7, 2003, Rodriguez won the Texas State Heavyweight Title with a first round knockout victory over Tommy Connelly in El Paso, Texas. On April 17, 2004, Rodriguez won the New Mexico State Heavyweight Title with a first round TKO victory over Jeff Lally in Las Cruces, New Mexico. On the undercard of Holyfield-Savarese in 2007 he stopped the 6' 9" 276 lbs Rick Dyer, who was undefeated at 13-0 (13 KOs) coming into the bout. Rodriguez beat Manuel Alberto Pucheta by an impressive TKO in seventh to win the NABA heavyweight title in 2009.Won the WBC FECOMBOX Mexican title as of June 24, 2011 against Owen Beck.