Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez gave an update on his health after suffering a broken jaw earlier in the year.
Rodriguez became WBO flyweight champion when he defeated Cristian Gonzalez, but incurred the injury along the way.
He will now defend the belt on Saturday night against IBF champion Sunny Edwards, live on DAZN.
Of course, entering any fight without being fully fit is a risk for any boxer, but Rodriguez told Matchroom about his rehabilitation.
He said: “My jaw feels good. It’s a little numb but the doctor said it would be like that for a while. I’m felt a little crack and then my ear started ringing so I knew something was up. I was able to bear it and finish the fight. I didn’t enjoy the win.
“I went straight to the hospital and got surgery on the Monday, and then I was on the six-week diet, strictly pudding, smoothies, milkshakes, whatever I could eat without chewing was what I was on, but as long as I’ve got my coffee, I’m good.”
He added: “A lot of things have changed since becoming world champion. In San Antonio, they treat me like a king. I go into restaurants and get free food and free coffees in the coffee shops. I was living at home before the world title fight, but after winning the title I got my own apartment and started living on my own.
“Life has been amazing since then. I appreciate what I did that day, but it’s in the past now. I have the biggest fight of my life coming up and I use that feeling as motivation because I know winning this one would be ten times what I felt back then.”