Heavyweight Boxer Segues to Western Gunslinger Role

When David "Nino" Rodriguez announced his retirement from professional boxing last summer, his heavyweight record was 36 wins and two losses. All but two of his wins were by knockout, with an astounding 24 of those logged in the first round (often as a result of a devastating left hook to the body). "I was a vicious fighter," Rodriguez admitted during a recent interview with AfterBuzz TV's Jared Gilkerson.

In early 2012, Rodriguez survived a brutal altercation outside an Arizona bar. Slashed in the face and jaw from behind, he required 369 stitches and was fortunate to be treated by a well-qualified cosmetic surgeon on duty that night at the hospital he was taken to. Rodriguez today bears a prominent facial scar.

"Nino" at that point was 36-0. It was only when he briefly picked up the gloves two years later that he incurred the two losses.

Although Rodriguez says he may step back into the ring for one more big fight, provided the results of a battery of current tests and diagnostics allow for it, he's keeping busy with charity work, motivational speaking and acting. "The Pride of 915" has been cast as El Paso gunslinger John Wesley Hardin in the 2016 indie Western Brothers James: Retribution. Here's how Rodriguez recently described the acting job at hand, via Facebook:

Hardin is a womanizing, alcoholic, bad ass gunslinger who killed over 40 people give or take. That's not counting the Mexicans he killed. He didn't count them because he didn't consider them people. How ironic is it that this big Mexican is now playing him in Brothers James: Retribution?

Many other famous Wild West characters are woven into the film. El Paso actor Brian Ceely plays Billy the Kid; Irish model Tiffany Stanley will be Calamity Jane; and so on. The movie is being co-directed by Frank Powers and Aaron Morga, who originally met at El Paso Comic-Con.

[David Rodriguez on Twitter]