In the sweltering heat of a California training camp, Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez is crafting what could become the defining moment of his already spectacular career. The 25-year-old boxing sensation is deep in preparation for his November 22 showdown against Argentina's Fernando Daniel Martinez, where he'll attempt to add the WBA super-flyweight belt to the WBC and WBO titles he already possesses.
The Gruelling Road to Riyadh
Daily Mail Sport gained exclusive access to witness Rodriguez's most demanding training camp to date, revealing the intense regimen that has carried him to a perfect 22-0 record and world championships across two weight classes. What unfolded was four hours of non-stop, punishing work that left even his coaches wiping sweat from their brows.
Rodriguez prefers to train in one continuous, brutal block each day. On the morning of our visit, he had already wrapped his hands, completed his stretches, and begun stalking the ring like a man preparing for the violence expected of him. The session blended rounds of sparring seamlessly into pad work, bag drills, speed ball routines, and finally an exhaustive strength and conditioning circuit.
"There were no breaks, no pauses, no drifting outside to catch breath," observed our correspondent. "This was the full dose - the method that has carried him to the brink of undisputed status."
Family at the Heart of the Gym
Amid the intensity of training, family provides the grounding force for Rodriguez. His young daughter wandered between heavy bags, giggling at the thud of gloves on leather while clinging to her mother's leg. Even during heated sparring sessions, the champion found moments between rounds to walk to the ropes and kiss her cheek.
"If it weren't for my family being here, then I probably would've gone crazy already," Rodriguez admitted after finishing his session. "Since the Australia fight, they've been coming with me, and it just makes me feel like I'm back home. Having my daughter and my girlfriend here with me just makes me a better person overall."
The fighter recently gained additional motivation when he welcomed his second child via FaceTime during camp, though he was forced to miss Wednesday's open workout to witness the birth.
A Legacy Built on Sacrifice
Rodriguez's remarkable rise stems from extraordinary family sacrifices that still resonate deeply with the champion. His childhood saw holiday money, birthday money, and Christmas money all redirected toward boxing - not just for Bam, but for his brothers too.
"It's not even a joke," he said, almost embarrassed by the memory. "In our third year boxing, we stopped getting gifts. Me, my brother that were boxing didn't get presents. Even my other brother who was just going to school and travelling with us didn't get anything. He sacrificed just as much as my parents despite not even wanting to box himself."
The sacrifices extended to his parents, with his father being fired for constantly missing work to drive Bam to tournaments, while his mother worked double shifts to cover the lost income. "Realising the sacrifices they made as an adult today... it pushes me more and more each day," Rodriguez reflected.
These memories fueled his decision to drop out of school and pursue boxing full-time. "I risked it," he stated matter-of-factly. "I believed in my abilities so I dropped out. If I stayed in school, who knows what would have happened? I probably wouldn't be as far as I am today."
The Martinez Challenge and Beyond
On November 22 at the ANB Arena in Saudi Arabia, Rodriguez faces perhaps his toughest challenge yet in Fernando Martinez, the undefeated Argentine pressure fighter. A victory would not only unify three of the four major super-flyweight titles but potentially elevate Rodriguez into boxing's elite pound-for-pound discussions.
"At the moment, I feel like I'm placed correctly," Rodriguez said of his current No.6 pound-for-pound ranking by The Ring. "But come November 22, if I'm able to go out there and perform how I have been against a fighter like Martinez, that's definitely gonna put me up there with the Usyks, Crawfords, and Inoue."
The champion has already mapped out his future plans: short-term focus on becoming undisputed champion, followed by moves to bantamweight and potentially featherweight. However, he insists he won't box past 30, with plans to invest his money and open a coffee shop afterward.
As camp reaches its final stretch and his family returns home, Rodriguez will channel that loneliness into motivation. "It's gonna be a little hard," he acknowledged quietly. "But that just pushes me more to get the job done."
When he steps into the ring in Riyadh, it will represent the culmination of years of sacrifice, relentless training, and family support - all converging on one night that could define his legacy forever.
