Pacquiao's Sparring Mate: Manny Out To Prove a Point

By Chris Robinson

It’s early Monday morning and practically all of the hard work has been done for Manny Pacquiao, the reigning WBO welterweight champion of the world. In five days’ time, the celebrated Filipino will defend his title against fierce rival Juan Manuel Marquez inside of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, in what will likely serve as a fitting conclusion to one of the more memorable trilogies in recent memory.

For this camp, as has been the case with several others, Pacquiao enlisted the services of lightweight hopeful David Rodela as a sparring partner. The rangy boxer-puncher from Oxnard, California has been going rounds with Manny ever since his preparation for his first bout with Erik Morales in March of 2005 and there is a solid camaraderie that exists between the two men.

Pacquiao’s mood at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles is typically carefree, yet Rodela insists he has seen another side of him this time around.

“The only difference with Manny now is that he’s extremely focused, no laughing, no giggling, no playing around, no bull******** like in other camps in the past like with Cotto, with Margarito,” said Rodela. “He’s doing what he loves but he’s out to prove a point, to leave no doubt in anybody’s mind that he beat Marquez twice already.”

The fight marks Marquez’s third above the lightweight limit, as he was thoroughly outclassed by Floyd Mayweather in September of 2009 in a bout contested at a catch weight of 144 pounds. And while Marquez’s preparation this time around has had some new twists that have seemed to have left him with a new level of confidence, Rodela has no hesitation when predicting a painful night for the Mexico City marvel.

“I don’t think the fight’s going to last very long,” Rodela added.  “I think Marquez is underestimating Pacquiao. When they fought, Marquez was at this best, Manny wasn’t at his best then. Because now he moved up in weight, he’s fought better opposition, bigger opposition. Marquez didn’t handle the weight great when he fought against Mayweather and I don’t think he’s going to handle the weight great against Pacquiao neither.”

It’s hard not to like a guy like Rodela but the reality is that the 29-year old has seen his career hit a snag as of late, as he has gone just 1-4-1 in his last six bouts, leaving his overall record at 15-5-3 (6), with the last ring appearance being a 5th round knockout to Luis Ramos Jr. on September 30th. And while each defeat may be more dampening to his aspirations as a professional, Rodela keeps a positive outlook towards his future.

“I just live day by day. I’m just one of those fighters that, I don’t take life for granted,” said Rodela. “I enjoy this rollercoaster. I will fight anybody, anytime, anywhere. I just do it because I love it. I aint in it for the money, I aint going to get rich, I aint going to be no superstar or nothing, but I take it for what it is. I have fun with it, I enjoy it, I know I’m only young once, so why not do it?”

Rodela does have several other passions in life, including a new endeavor behind the lens of the camera, as he served as his good friend and stable mate Victor Ortiz’s personal photographer for the lead up to the former champion’s September 17th bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr. And while his other aspirations may end up taking place outside of boxing, there seems to be much more that awaits David Rodela’s future

[Reader's note: Visit the following slideshows for images from the boxing world... A closer look at Pacquiao's camp for Marquez / Ringside with the Tecate Girls ]