MUCH like it would in a retro Batman comic, the word ‘Bam’ – in relation to the career of Jesse Rodriguez, that is – leaves very little to the imagination.
While he was initially nicknamed ‘Bambino,’ only for it to then be shortened to ‘Bam,’ the 25-year-old’s moniker has, quite naturally, evolved into a more apt reflection of his style.
Delivered with aggression, his performances will typically remove the need for any preamble and skip straight to the meat and gravy, often culminating in an explosive finish.
But while Rodriguez’s approach in the ring remains as alluring as it is spiteful, it is important not to forget, either, that such athletic mastery is never crafted overnight.
Rather, it is only through years of sacrifice and hardship that a fighter is able to reach the pinnacle of their sport, and for Rodriguez, the opportunities that were afforded to him and his brother, former world champion Joshua Franco, ultimately came at a huge financial cost.
The pair’s parents, much to the detriment of their own lives, made sure to prioritise their respective amateur careers.
But as a result, the family, as a whole, soon felt an enormous pinch, tight enough to restrict many of life’s luxuries.
“Looking back now, I know that it was a huge sacrifice for them,” Rodriguez told Boxing News. “But back then, I was just a little kid, and didn’t really understand how life works.
“I was training and going to tournaments at the time, but now I know that they [his parents] risked their own jobs to support us.
“My dad even got fired at one point, just because he was going to our tournaments and missing too much work.
“So when he became jobless, my mum was the one who really had to pick up more days at work.
“If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. They sacrificed their own lives to provide for us, so I’m just thankful to have the parents I was born with.
“We were always a stable family, but as soon as me and my brother started boxing, that’s when my parents really started to go through some struggles.
“Even my other brother never really got any Christmas or birthday presents, because all of the money was just going to me and [Franco].
“I still remember those days, so that motivates me to keep going. Me and my brother also missed out on a lot of our childhood, just because we were always in the gym or at a tournament.”
Not only did his parents offer their financial support, but they also allowed Rodriguez, who was only a teenager at the time, to drop out of school.
From there, the American – clearly gleaming with confidence – went full throttle in pursuit of a flourishing boxing career, before eventually crossing paths with former world champion Robert Garcia.
Almost as if it was written in the stars, the pair would then ignite a fighter-trainer relationship which, sure enough, has worked wonders ever since.
“In 2012, Robert Garcia and Nonito Donaire had an open workout in San Antonio,” Rodriguez recalled. “At the time, Donaire was my favourite fighter, so I wanted to stop by and see him before heading out to a tournament.
“Donaire then called me into the ring and held the pads for me, but that was also the first time I met Robert Garcia.
“He’s been a world champion himself, he’s been through the highs and the lows, so he knows what it takes to stay at the top.
“I feel like he’s the best trainer in all of boxing, but besides that, he’s also a great role model. He cares about his fighters and wants to put them in a position to have their lives set up after boxing, where they don’t need it anymore.
“I’ve come this far with Robert in my corner, so we must be doing something right.”
Indeed, with Garcia at the helm, the WBC world super-flyweight champion has hardly put a foot wrong.
His performances, of course, speak for themselves, yet so too do the accolades that he has garnered throughout his eight-year professional campaign.
Rodriguez, however, is in no mood to take his foot off the gas, but instead looks to enhance his glittering belt collection over the next few months.
His first opportunity to do so will arrive this Saturday (July 19), when ‘Bam’ squares off against WBO world champion Phumelela Cafu at The Ford Center in Frisco, Texas.
After that, Rodriguez is then set to collide with WBA champion Fernando Martinez on November 22, perhaps representing an even more intriguing unification.
But of course, the Texan acknowledges that he must remain focused on the task at hand, hoping to produce a scintillating display in front of his home fans.
“I’m expecting a very difficult fight, just because I know that, with Cafu [dethroning Kosei Tanaka last October], he’s on a high right now,” Rodriguez admitted.
“He’s very motivated to pick up more titles and do the same against me in Frisco. But I’ve been training my ass off, more so than in any other camp, so it’s going to be an exciting night for all the fans.
“There’s never any pressure; I just have to go out there and prove that I’m the real deal. [Headlining the card is] more motivating than anything else, and on July 19, it’ll be another spectacular performance from me.
“I’ve been boxing for so long that, now, it’s second nature to me. I can’t even remember the last time I got nervous before a fight.”
Typically laid-back in his demeanour, it is unsurprising, really, that Rodriguez approaches each assignment with that same carefree attitude, almost as if to say that, regardless of the outcome, he is perfectly content with the work that has been diligently carried out behind closed doors.
Equally, ‘Bam’ chooses to adopt a similar mindset in his civilian life, not wishing to leave anything to chance but instead providing a comfortable environment for his family.
Yet now, with a second child on the way, it is fair to say that the motivation to earn life-changing sums of money has never been greater.
“My daughter [Mila] is the most motivating thing I’ve ever had in my life – that’s a little human I have to look after,” Rodriguez gleamed, displaying an ‘M’ tattoo he has inked on the side of his head.
“She’s going to look up to me, and rely on me to provide anything she needs. I actually have a son on the way as well, so that adds even more motivation, as things are going to start getting pretty expensive.”
