Philippines, 18 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


DAVID RODELA BARELY ESCAPES JUAN GARCIA


PhilBoxing.com




Thursday night at the Club Nokia located at the trendy downtown LA Live area of the City Los Angeles right next to the Staples Center, David Rodela, the lightweight prospect from Oxnard, California barely won a very hard fought 6 rounder against Juanito Garcia of Los Angeles.

Rodela (13-1-3, 6 KO) edged Garcia who parades a record of (14-3-0, 5 KO) via a split decision.

The judges scores were 59-55 (Rey Corona), 59-55 (Alejandro Rochin) and 56-57 (Vince Delgado) for Rodela.

The fight started rather slow with each boxer measuring each other very cautiously. The highpoint of the first two rounds were a few animated exchanges that drew a roar from the crowd, particularly from those that drove down from Oxnard and Ventura to see the hero fight.

In round three, Garcia landed a solid right cross during a furious exchange that staggered Rodela. However, he recovered very quickly and came back with a vengeance in round four, almost dropping Garcia with several combinations punctuated by upper cuts. Rodela was so dominant in that round that one judge (Delgado) gave him a 10-8 score.

Rounds five and six was less spectacular as both boxer slowed down and only had occasional furious exchanges at ring center. Rodela however appeared to have landed more telling blows leading to the split decision win.

The decent number of fight fans that crowded Club Nokia had an entertaining night. They also had the chance to spend the rest of the evening at the club where rock music and alcohol freely flowed.

Judging from the turn out which included TV star Mario Lopez, boxers Shane Mosley, Bernard Hopkins and Victor Ortiz, Golden Boy Promotions will surely put up more of the same exciting cards at the same venue in the months ahead.

In the other cards, unbeaten Luis Ramos (10-0-0 (6KO) of Sta. Ana, California KO?d Baudel Cardenas (18-17-2, 6KO) of Los Mochis, Mexico. Ramos dropped Cardenas in round 1 with a hard body shot and then in round 5, he landed a strong right that landed flush on the jaw of Cardenas knocking him down for the full count. Time was 2:26.

Charles Huerta (11-0-0, 6KO) of the City of Paramount, CA in a featherweight fight beat

previously unbeaten Noe Lopez, Jr ( 4-1-0 (3KO) of Nogales, Mexico in three rounds. Lopez fell three times during the round. Time was 1:02.

In the opening bout, undefeated Ricky Lopez (4-0-0, 2KO) won via unanimous decision over Rufino Serrano ( 1-1-0) of Santa Maria, California.

What seem to have stolen the show however was the swing bout for TV between Jose Roman (5-0-0 (4KO) of Santa Ana, CA and Ramon Flores (3-6-1, 3KO) of Wilmington, CA.

In the initial minutes of round one, Flores dropped Roman for an 8-count with a surprise left straight. After the count, Roman however recovered quickly to continue the fight

The following round, Roman scored a spectacular KO that left Flores on the canvas for more than 5 minutes being attended by doctors and his trainers. He however walked out of the ring in his own power.

Later, as this writer passed by the dressing rooms, Flores was seen being fitted a neck collar by the paramedics preparatory to his obligatory trip to the hospital.



Top photo: Perennial Manny Pacquiao sparring partner David Rodela (L) tags Juanito Garcia with a left straight in this bit of action from their fight Thursday night at the Nokia Center in downtown Los Angeles. Rodela has been declared a winner by split decision by the referee after the bout (above photo). Photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • ARNOLD BARBOZA JR. AND KENNETH SIMS JR. SET FOR HIGH-STAKES CLASH IN CAN’T-MISS MAIN EVENT ON DAZN
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • CALLUM SMITH VS DAVID MORRELL MEGA FIGHT SET FOR APRIL 18 IN LIVERPOOL AS PAT BROWN HEADLINES IN HIS HOMETOWN ON APRIL 3
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • 2026 USA Boxing Youth High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced
    , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • Rapid chessfest gets underway February 22
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 18 Feb 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 16 FEBRUARY 2026: Ajagba, Dzambekov, Ruiz Register Stoppage Wins in Zuffa Event
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Mexican government and WBC join forces to create mega-project “Boxing for Peace”
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • All eyes on GM Johan-Sebastian Christiansen in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • WBC Champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios Locked in for Ryan Garcia Showdown February 21 at T-Mobile Arena
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Dana White mocks traditional boxing promoters: "No contest, it's like hitting babies"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026
  • “The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026
  • Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
    , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.