by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Fighter of the Decade Manny Pacquiao’s former sparring partner David Rodela tries to bounce back from a stunning second round knockout at the hands of Terence Crawford in Las Vegas last month when he battles undefeated super featherweight Ronny Rios at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio on Saturday.
The 30 year old Rodela who has a record of 16-6-3 with 5 knockouts had previously scored a 2nd round knockout over Baudel Cardenas on February 25th in a fight card in California.
Rios on the other hand has an impressive record of 18-0 with 8 knockouts and is fresh from a lopsided eight round unanimous decision over Guillermo Sanchez last April 8.
He is a former two-time US amateur national champion winning the bantamweight title in 2007 and 2009. He was also the National Golden Gloves champion in 2007.
In another significant bout on the Golden Boy Promotions card former IBF world lightweight champion Julio Diaz will clash with Colombia’s hard-hitting Henry Aurad in a ten round welterweight bout. Aurad currently fights out of Miami, Florida.
Diaz won the title with a 3rd round knockout over Jesus Chavez on February 3, 2007 but in his last fight on May 13, 2011 the 32 year old Diaz suffered a 3rd round TKO to Kendall Holt in a scheduled ten round bout on May 13, 2011.
The 28 year old Aurad has a record of 14-4-1 with 11 knockouts and is coming off a 1st round knockout of unheralded Emerson Leon on July 29, 2011.
