David Rodela knows a thing or two about riding roller coasters at Six Flags Magic Mountain or Disneyland.
The twists and turns remind Rodela of something close to home: his professional boxing career.
Rodela has faced world champions, contenders and blue-chip prospects throughout his nearly 10-year professional career. While he has never won a world title or earned a six-figure payday, the Oxnard resident is content on what he has accomplished in the sport.
Which is why the 27-year-old Rodela may be thinking about hanging up the gloves for good. In the meantime, he will lace up the gloves at least one final time.
Rodela (17-7-3, 9 KOs) will fight unbeaten Jose Ramirez (11-0, 8 KOs) in an eight-round bout at Selland Arena in Fresno on Saturday night. The bout will headline a Top Rank card and will be televised on the Spanish-language network UniMas at 11 p.m.
After a successful amateur career where he won several titles, Rodela made his professional debut in January 2005. After losing once in his first 17 pro fights, Rodela faced stiffer opposition and lost eight of his next 12 fights.
While Rodela may have fallen short in his most recent fights, the 2000 Channel Islands High graduate began to get a reputation for something else in the boxing world.
Rodela became one of the chief sparring partners for Manny Pacquiao, making his way from Oxnard to the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood to spar multiple rounds daily with the Filipino star. Pacquiao never forget the contributions Rodela made to his camp, purchasing a home in Oxnard for Rodela and his family.
While Saturday could be the last time Rodela fights, his competitiveness is not wilting away. He believes he can pull off the upset over Ramirez, who represented the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
?I?m going into this fight with nothing to lose,? said Rodela, who won his last fight on July 11, defeating Tyrell Samuel at the Performing Arts Center in Oxnard. ?What I?ve noticed in some videos is that his opponents go into the ring intimidated by him. I?m past that at this stage of my career. If I dictate this fight, I?m going to take him into the deep waters.?
While Rodela may not have the most glossy won-loss record, he has been promoted by Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, two of the biggest promotional companies in the sport.
He fought abroad in Mexico and the Philippines, even sparring with other world champions, including Ricky Hatton of England and former undisputed world champion Zab Judah.
As the boxing chapter of his life appears to be nearing its end, Rodela has a full-time job waiting for him at Baxter, a health care company in Thousand Oaks. He was also a boxing coach for Oxnard?s Police Activities League.
While not every fight produced a spectacular knockout or a significant payday, Rodela gave it his all in the sport and will exit with no regrets.
?I?m not slurring my speech and I can remember where I park my car,? quipped Rodela.
REISS INDUCTION
Referee Jack Reiss will be one of about two dozen boxing figures who will be inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday at the Sportsmen?s Lodge in Sherman Oaks. The event starts at 11 a.m.
Reiss is considered one of the best referees in the country.
While he is not officiating fights, Reiss sells real estate in Oxnard. Reiss worked for the Los Angeles County fire department for more than two decades.
MORALES APPEARANCE
Crystal Morales will make an appearance at Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Diego on Friday night to show her support for women?s boxing. Amaris Quintana of San Diego will defend her NABF straw weight title during the show.
Morales, a 2003 Pacifica High School graduate and Oxnard resident, will be available to sign autographs and take pictures with fight fans.
Morales is the IFBA lightweight champion. She was scheduled to return to the ring in September, but the fight fell through.
