TRAINING and fighting in a foreign land-- thousands of miles apart from your home and your family--are both mentally and emotionally draining.
Jessie Cris Rosales has to endure all those stresses just to earn enough money to give his father, Narciso Sr., the medical treatment he badly needs after suffering a stroke in September in Bohol.
“I want to make an impression here so that I’ll continue to get more fights here in the US. I’m doing this for my father that’s bed-ridden due to a stroke. I want to bring him to Cebu so that he’ll be treated by the best doctors,” Rosales told SunStar Cebu. “I’m heavy in debt because of that and everybody is counting on me. I really need these fights in the US.”
The 27-year-old Rosales is scheduled to fight unbeaten prospect Xavier Martinez in a 10-rounder on Nov. 1, 2019 at the Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Rosales was supposed to fight the 21-year-old Martinez back in June but the latter was forced to pull out of the fight due to an injury.
Rosales still flew to the US and had a fight a month later against Tyler McCreary in July. Rosales gave McCreary, a Top Rank prospect, a run for his money, wherein the fight ended by split decision in favor of the unbeaten American.
Though Rosales lost his last two fights in the US, he’s still fortunate to have fights there after signing a promotional contract with New Champion Promotions.
Rosales has been training for Martinez at the Lee Espinoza Boxing Club in Coachella, California. He has been sparring with fellow Pinoy Eugene Lagos, former world champion Randy Caballero and up-and-coming prospect Rommel Caballero. The gym is also home to former world champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and recently Jason Pagara.
Even though Rosales is coming as the underdog, he is convinced that he has a bit of an edge with experience and because Martinez is coming off an injury.
“I think we have a bit of advantage because he’s coming off an injury but we won’t take him lightly. We are a bit ahead of him in experience,” he said. “I will not take any chances, but we trained hard for this fight. I will do my best to win this fight.”
However, his biggest advantage is his drive, the strength that keeps him going - his father and his son, Emman.
“My father and my son are my inspiration.” (EKA)