Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez was forced to skip Wednesday night’s open workout after dashing away to witness the birth of his second child via FaceTime.
The super-flyweight sensation, who defends his WBC and WBO titles against Argentina’s Fernando Martinez on Saturday night live on DAZN PPV, had been scheduled to take to the ring around 10.30pm in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
The promoters behind the Ring IV card had billed the session as a final chance for fans and reporters to catch a glimpse of Rodriguez’s razor-sharp form, style and shape before fight week reached fever pitch.
Some supporters had even travelled internationally for the occasion, with one fan seated ringside claiming he had flown in specifically to watch Rodriguez take to the ring.
Instead, a ripple of confusion swept through the venue when it became clear Rodriguez would not be appearing. Moments earlier, the 25-year-old had received word that his girlfriend Rebecca – already mum to their 18-month-old daughter, Mila – had gone into labor back home.
Rodriguez decided to forego the press event to join the delivery room virtually, phone in hand, choosing family over fight-week fanfare. And rightly so.
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez skipped his open workout to witness the birth of his second child
The 25-year-old had received word that his girlfriend Rebecca had gone into labor back home
The shock development capped what had already been an emotionally charged build-up.
His title defense falling in the same week Rebecca was due to give birth had long carried the risk of a logistical and emotional collision. That possibility became reality just as cameras and fans gathered to watch Bam loosen up for his latest world-title assignment.
Yet those within his team indicated there was no panic, only a sense that the timely arrival had given the boxing superstar a fresh fire for Saturday’s clash with the unbeaten Martinez, known for his relentless pressure and engine.
And for Rodriguez, family motivation is nothing new.
During Daily Mail Sport’s exclusive visit to his American training camp earlier in the build-up, he explained that unlike many fighters who isolate themselves for weeks at a time, he chooses to bring his loved ones with him, finding stability and sanity in their presence.
He spoke candidly about the comfort of having Rebecca and Mila alongside him in camp, and how their absence in past camps left him lonely and disconnected.
He recalled how Mila had taken her first steps while staying with him during a previous camp – a moment he would have missed had they remained at home.
The super-flyweight – who fights Fernando Martinez on Saturday – already has a daughter, Mila
He said: ‘If it weren’t for my family being here, then I probably would’ve gone crazy already, 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.’
‘Whenever they go back home, I’m just like lonely and like nothing to do,’ he admits. ‘My last camp, my daughter started walking out here, so if I left them back home, I would have missed that.’
They are returning home on Sunday, just before camp reaches its hardest stretch. ‘It’s gonna be a little hard,’ he says quietly. ‘But that just pushes me more to get the job done.’
