Rodney King Dead -- He Was In Good Spirits Before He Died

Rodney King sounded upbeat and excited about an upcoming celebrity boxing match, this according to a friend who spoke to him just hours before his death.

Damon Feldman -- who worked with King on the boxing circuit and has known him for several years -- tells TMZ he spoke to King at 4:00 PM and they discussed his future in boxing.

Feldman says Rodney was excited about his next boxing match -- a fight with Jose Canseco -- that was to take place in August. A press conference had been scheduled for June 29 to announce the battle.

Feldman tells TMZ that Rodney was thrilled to be working again and looking forward to getting back in the ring.

King died early this morning at his home in Rialto, CA. He was 47.