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www.MOSTmag.com || FITNESS MAG A ZINE || 109But more than that, Rodriguez had now been given the taste of blood, which only served to further fuel his passion for the brutal yet beautiful craft of boxing. The training was strict %u2013 a discipline that his life desperately needed. And he who would one day become the %u201cPride of the 915%u201d had begun to succeed in turning his virtually inexpressible aggression into something greater than himself.s Rodriguez took on more fights, he quickly drew attention by pummeling his opponents and progressively sparring veteran fighters. After contending at the amateur level for 7 years, David entered into his professional career. He beat out Manuel Alberto Pucheta by a TKO to win the WBA NABA Heavyweight Title. He defeated Owen Beck in El Paso to a sellout crowd and took the WBC Mexican Heavyweight Championship. And he crushed overmatched Byron Polley for the NABU Heavyweight Title.During training for the first of his 2011 fights, Rodriguez survived a brutal knife attack, the result of which was a near-death experience and a facial scar that runs clear from his ear to his chin. Shortly thereafter, he also suffered an injury to his knee, sidetracking what was intended to be an explosive, career-defining year. The now top-contender, ranked number 10 on the planet and perfectly poised to seize the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World, found himself at a crossroads. To fight or not to fight. It was a difficult decision %u2013 the most difficult of his career. The attack had taken its toll on him both physically and mentally. He struggled with the decision for months. But in the end, the natural-born fighter in him won out. And so, uncertain of his future and underestimating the trauma he%u2019d sustained, he stepped back into the ring. But in the last 10 seconds of the last round of a bloody fight he was edging out on the scorecards, David was knocked out cold. It was his first loss %u2013 ever %u2013 and cause for an entire reevaluation of his life. The %u201cPride of the 915%u201d now knew he had to give himself a chance to heal, and so set down his gloves for a hiatus of undetermined length.Unable to sit idle, and with an ever-growing urge to assist his community, David began telling others about his story through an anti-bullying campaign that started organically but has now begun to pick up momentum. He speaks to detention facilities and school districts with a non-profit organization called %u201cLucid Love%u201d (www.lucidlove.org), openly sharing the story of himself being bullied and in return becoming the bully. He speaks to the rage he carried into the ring and the roots from which it stemmed. He travels the country delivering a powerful and impactful message that is striking a nerve with countless who feel they have no voice. David has a newfound cause %u2013 and has taken his fight from the ring to the victims of this ever-increasing issue by raising awareness of bullying in its many current forms in our culture.hen asked about his secret to such an outstanding boxing career, Rodriguez states, %u201cWhen I enter the ring, I see through my opponent %u2013 I see right through to his heart and soul. I gather myself, remaining calm and calculated, and when the moment presents itself %u2013 unleash.%u201d Whether David ever steps back into the boxing ring remains to be seen. But one thing is for certain: he will continue to fight %u2013 whether in the ring or out of it.